EFCC Deepens UK Partnership to Tackle Organised Immigration Fraud

Summary

• EFCC partnered with the British High Commission for anti-immigration fraud training.
• Officers learned to detect forged documents and passport security features.
• Training boosts EFCC’s capacity to tackle transnational financial crimes.

Lagos, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deepened its collaboration with the British High Commission to tackle the growing threat of organised immigration fraud, through a specialised training on document forgery held in Lagos.

The training, which took place on Thursday, May 15, 2025, was organised by the Home Office International Operations of the British Deputy High Commission for two EFCC directorates at its Lagos office on 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi to equip operatives with advanced skills in detecting forged documents and curbing document-related fraud schemes.

Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1, CE Michael Nzekwe, who hosted the training, expressed gratitude for the collaboration.

“We thank you for this partnership, knowing that one of our core values is stakeholder collaboration. Our mandate is to combat financial crimes, many of which are transnational. This training is very timely and will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities,” he stated.

The session was led by Mr. Coran Oakley, International Liaison Manager at the British High Commission, who underscored the critical role of cross-border cooperation.

“This training will enhance the EFCC’s capability in forgery detection by examining the security features of both British and Nigerian passports, thereby strengthening their ability to identify fraudulent documents during operational activities,” Oakley explained.

Participants received hands-on exposure to forgery detection methods, including document alteration, simulation, and digital manipulation. Interactive case studies and practical sessions helped operatives sharpen their skills in identifying suspicious documents.

Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Paul Terhemba, Head of the Visa & Migration Fraud Section, said the training would improve the commission’s investigative outcomes.

“We frequently examine documents that appear to be fraudulent and are often issued to defraud unsuspecting victims at significant financial costs. This training will enable us to better identify such documents before escalating them to the issuing authorities for verification,” he said.

Other participants, including Deputy Superintendent DSE Okoronkwo Onyekachi and Assistant Superintendent ASE I Timileyin Benson, praised the session.

Onyekachi noted the benefit of learning about new passport security features, while Benson said the training significantly enhanced her ability to tell genuine documents from fake ones.

The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to strategic partnerships and continuous capacity building in its mission to combat economic and financial crimes, both locally and internationally.