“ICAN Cannot Certify Forensic Professionals” — CIFCFIN Asks Federal High Court To Stop CFAN Programme

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed 24 November for hearing in the suit filed by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), in which the plaintiff challenges the power of the defendant to train and issue qualifying certificates to forensic professionals.

The matter, which is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had been listed for mention on Tuesday, but was adjourned to enable the parties appear properly before the court.

The plaintiff, represented by Mr. Shaibu Aruwa, SAN, sued the accountancy body as sole defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1559/2026.

The plaintiff contends that the defendant cannot offer a “Certification Programme culminating in the award of Certified Forensic Accountant of Nigeria (CFAN).”

It submits that this follows from the combined interpretation of sections 2(a) to (i), 3(1)(a) and 4(a) to (c), 6(2), 12(2), 13(1) and (g), 17(1)(a) and (b) and 22 of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 45 of 2022.

In an affidavit in support, the Head of Legal and Corporate Services of the plaintiff, Mr. Mohammed Arafat, deposed that the defendant’s invitation to applicants for a seven-day professional certification programme culminating in the award of the qualification is outside its mandate and could confuse the general public.

The plaintiff alleges that the defendant invited applicants drawn from among chartered accountants, compliance managers, bankers, investment analysts, auditors, staff of anti-corruption agencies and other institutions to register for the programme.

The plaintiff asks the court for an order setting aside and nullifying the award of the qualification or the CFAN certificate, or any other qualification or certificate in the field and practice of forensics in Nigeria, by the defendant.

It urges the court to order the defendant to withdraw, retract or cease any publication, gazette notice or public representation asserting that it has power to certify or license.

It also seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, its council and others from issuing, advertising or recognising the CFAN qualification, designation, licence or certification, or any title or award identical or similar to those created under the provisions of its own Act.

It further seeks a declaration that, by the combined provisions of the sections relied upon, the defendant cannot offer a certification programme culminating in the award of the qualification.

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