Court to Hear Case on ICAN and Forensic Fraud Investigators Clash

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set November 24 for a hearing in a case brought by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

CIFCFIN is questioning ICAN's authority to train and give certificates to forensic professionals. The case is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. It was supposed to be mentioned on Tuesday, but the court postponed it to allow both sides to appear properly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) says CIFCFIN, through its lawyer, Shaibu Aruwa, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), named ICAN as the only defendant in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1559/2026.

CIFCFIN argued that ICAN should not run a “Certification Programme” that leads to the Certified Forensic Accountant of Nigeria (CFAN) title. The group based its argument on various sections of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 45, 2022.

Mohammed Arafat, who leads Legal and Corporate Services for CIFCFIN, stated in a supporting affidavit that ICAN's call for applicants to join a seven-day professional certification programme for CFAN is beyond its powers and may mislead the public.

CIFCFIN claimed that ICAN invited applicants from fields such as chartered accountants, compliance managers, bankers, investment analysts, auditors, staff from anti-corruption agencies, and other institutions to apply for this programme.

CIFCFIN asked the court to cancel the CFAN qualification or any other forensic qualification ICAN has issued. The group wants the court to order ICAN to stop any announcements or public statements suggesting it can certify or license forensic professionals.

CIFCFIN also wants the court to put a permanent stop to ICAN, its council, and others from issuing, promoting, or recognizing the CFAN qualification, title, license, or any similar awards that fall under its Act.

Additionally, CIFCFIN is seeking a declaration that “by the combined provisions of Sections 2(a)-(i), 3(1)(a), and 4(a)-(c), 6(2), 12(2), 13, (1)(0) 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, 2022, the defendant cannot offer a ‘Certification Programme’ leading to the CFAN award.