A forensic risk advisory firm, Pearl Forensic Risk Advisory Services, has trained officers of the Nigeria Police Force on forensic and fraud investigation techniques, in a move aimed at strengthening evidence-based policing and improving prosecution outcomes.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration under the Department of Training and Development, Aflabi Wilfred, disclosed this while speaking at a training programme organised for officers of the Force.
Wilfred said the Police were repositioning their crime-fighting architecture by embracing technology, innovation, and scientific methodologies to close existing gaps in forensic and fraud investigations.
According to him, modern policing demands a shift from traditional investigative methods to intelligence-led and evidence-based approaches capable of addressing contemporary security challenges.
“The Nigeria Police Force is re-strategising its efforts towards curtailing crime, and this time it is through forensic and fraud investigation. The deployment of technology and innovation has become imperative in strengthening our investigative apparatus and closing existing gaps in forensic and fraud investigations,” he said.
Wilfred stressed that the importance of forensic and investigative training could not be overemphasised, particularly in the face of increasingly complex criminal activities and the growing demand for credible, evidence-based prosecution.
He noted that investigation was no longer optional in modern policing but a critical tool for effective, fair, and credible crime prevention and justice delivery.
“In today’s policing environment, investigation is not a choice; it is a core instrument for effective crime prevention, enhanced judicial processes, and the delivery of justice through scientific methodologies,” he stated.
The police chief said the training programme was approved by the Inspector-General of Police as part of broader reforms aimed at equipping officers with relevant skills in line with global best practices in policing.
According to him, participants are expected to acquire practical knowledge in forensic science, fraud detection, and modern investigative techniques that would improve professionalism and reduce reliance on confessions and other outdated methods.
Speaking after the training, the facilitator, HRH Erelu Dr Pearl Chidinma Ogbulu, Founder and Lead Forensic Consultant at Pearl Forensic Risk Advisory Services and author of Fraud Unmasked, said the programme was designed to reposition police investigations around science, data, and forensic intelligence rather than assumptions or confessions.
According to her, the multi-day training focused on crime scene management, forensic evidence preservation, fraud pattern analysis, financial crime investigation, and legally sustainable case construction, combining theoretical instruction with practical forensic scenarios.
“Criminal activity—particularly fraud—has become increasingly sophisticated, technology-enabled, and transnational. Traditional investigative approaches alone are no longer sufficient. This training was prompted by the urgent need to recalibrate policing towards science, data, and forensic intelligence, ensuring investigators can effectively interpret evidence rather than rely on confessions or conjecture,” Ogbulu said.
She noted that the initiative aligns with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, who has repeatedly emphasised professionalism, intelligence-led policing, and continuous capacity building within the Force.
“Forensic investigation is the backbone of modern justice systems. It removes speculation from justice and ensures that cases are built on facts, evidence, and science—not assumptions. In fraud and financial crimes especially, forensic investigation is what separates successful prosecution from failed cases. It protects both the innocent and the integrity of the justice system,” she stated.
Ogbulu described her role in the programme as that of an independent technical forensic partner, providing applied expertise and capacity building to strengthen investigative outcomes within the Nigeria Police Force.
Assessing the Police’s performance in crime control, she acknowledged existing structural and operational challenges but said there has been a growing commitment to intelligence-driven operations and forensic awareness, with noticeable improvements in coordinated responses.
At the operational level, she said the training would enable officers to conduct better investigations, preserve evidence properly, detect fraud patterns earlier, and present stronger cases in court—ultimately reducing case dismissals and improving conviction rates.
The training was held at a designated police training facility in Nigeria and involved investigative and operational officers drawn from various police units. Participants are expected to apply forensic principles in ongoing cases and share best practices within their commands.
Ogbulu disclosed plans to expand and institutionalise the initiative, with deeper specialisation in financial crimes and digital forensics, alongside periodic refresher training.
She assured Nigerians that the programme reflects a broader shift towards science-based, accountable policing.
“This initiative reflects a deliberate move towards science-based, accountable policing. Nigerians should be assured that efforts are being made to strengthen investigations through credible evidence. A secure society is built on competent investigators, credible institutions, and forensic truth,” she added.
