Falana, Nda-Isaiah, Okiro, Others Proffer Solutions On Fraud, Cashless Economy

A two-day workshop, organised by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Lagos, yesterday addressed the challenges of combating crimes in the country.
With the theme: “The dynamics of cashless economy and emerging methods of financial crimes”, according to the Commissioner of Police (CP) in-charge, Mr. AyotundeOgunsakin, the workshop was to discuss fraud prevention, investigation and prosecution in Nigeria ”.
The workshop which attracted prominent Nigerians such as Monarch of Lagos, Oba RilwanuAkiolu, His Excellency,, Mr. BabatundeFashola, SAN, Lagos State Governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security, Major TundePanox (rtd), Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who represented Prof. Wole Soyinka, amongst others, examined the society, corruption, perspectives in fighting corruption, investigation, punishment and Nigeria’s transition to a cashless society.
The IGP, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, who declared the workshop open, said that the police could battle financial crimes alone, government, private sector and religious institutions also have their respective roles.
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who spoke on the theme: “Investigating Bribery and Corruption-public Disconnect,” heaped the blame of corruption in Nigeria on lack of political will, in addition to the Nigerian system which harbours sacred cows and the ‘untouchables’.
Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman, Leadership Newspaper Group, who was represented by Mr. EzenwaNwagwu, in his paper titled: “Managing organisational risk and security, fraud awareness and prevention”, shared the view of Falana on lack of political will as responsible for the high level of corruption.
According to the legal luminary, “We are all witnesses to the Halliburton scandal and how it was bungled by Nigeria in order to shield the powerful perpetrators of one of the monumental fraud in the annals of our country even though, the US government meted appropriate punishments to the US citizens and corporations involved in the scandal. The US government has also recovered close to One billion dollars in fines and penalties from such individuals and corporate entities.”

Leadership