The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the French government are set to strengthen their cooperation in tackling financial crimes.

The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Lieutenant General Regis Colombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja.

Colombet highlighted France’s extensive experience in establishing specialized academic and training centres, citing the Cyber School in Dakar, Senegal, and an Academy in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, dedicated to counterterrorism training.

He said the collaboration will be particularly in the areas of asset tracking, cybercrime investigation, and security training.

He emphasised the importance of international collaboration in combating financial and cybercrimes.

“In our cooperation, we prioritize developing academic centres and training hubs, particularly in areas such as cyber investigations and security threats. We provide training opportunities, including specialised courses in France, to enhance expertise in security and defence.

“Since crime has no borders, international collaboration is essential, and the EFCC’s role in combating financial and cybercrimes is crucial to our collective security efforts”, Colombet said.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, welcomed the collaboration, noting the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France in tackling crime.

He acknowledged the necessity of working together to prevent and investigate cybercrimes, money laundering, and other transnational financial offences.

“Nigeria and France have a long history of collaboration in crime prevention and investigation. We have successfully worked together in asset tracing, and we are committed to strengthening that relationship further.

“Given the borderless nature of financial and cybercrimes, international cooperation is crucial in curbing these offences.

“If we work together, we can significantly reduce the chances of these criminals finding safe havens anywhere in the world. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that these international syndicates do not succeed in perpetrating their crimes.

“This will help maintain global security, prevent civil unrest, and curb related offences such as arms trafficking and terrorism, which are often linked to financial crimes.

“We appreciate the opportunities for training and capacity building. Crime detection and investigation in Nigeria differ significantly from Europe. While European law enforcement can access digital records at the push of a button, our investigations require extensive fieldwork.

“By combining our practical expertise with France’s advanced technological tools, we can create a more effective crime-fighting strategy,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC and France are committed to working together to:

Strengthen asset tracking and recovery

Enhance cybercrime investigation and prosecution

Provide security training and capacity building, and

Share intelligence and best practices.

The collaboration aims to curb financial and cybercrimes, maintain global security, and prevent related offences such as arms trafficking and terrorism.