The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deepened its collaboration with the British High Commission to combat organised immigration fraud through a specialised training on document forgery.
The training, which took place on Thursday, 15 May 2025, was organised by the Home Office International Operations of the British Deputy High Commission. It was held at 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, for operatives from the EFCC’s Lagos Directorates.
Designed to enhance the capacity of EFCC officers in detecting forged documents and preventing fraud, the session covered a wide range of forgery techniques, including document alterations, simulations, and digital manipulations. Participants also engaged in hands-on exercises using real-life case studies.
Hosting the session, CE Michael Nzekwe, Zonal Director of Lagos Directorate 1, praised the continued cooperation. “We thank you for this partnership. Our mandate involves combating financial crimes—many of which are transnational. This training is timely and vital to enhancing our investigative capabilities,” he said.
Mr. Coran Oakley, International Liaison Manager at the British High Commission, led the training. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing organised immigration crime. “This exercise strengthens the EFCC’s ability to detect forged documents by focusing on the security features of both British and Nigerian passports,” he said.
Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Paul Terhemba, Head of the Visa & Migration Fraud Section, described the training as instrumental in supporting ongoing investigations. “We regularly assess potentially fraudulent documents used to deceive unsuspecting victims. This training equips us to identify such documents earlier and refer them to the issuing authorities for verification,” he stated.
Participants, including Deputy Superintendent DSE Okoronkwo Onyekachi and Assistant Superintendent ASE I Timileyin Benson, commended the training for expanding their knowledge of security features and improving their ability to distinguish genuine documents from counterfeits.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to building the capacity of its operatives through strategic partnerships and continuous training in its fight against economic and financial crimes.
