fighting cybercrimes

Abuja- United Kingdom's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has donated forensic information technology equipment to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to help fight cyber crime. Oliver Blake, Team Leader of Governance and Social Development at the UK Department for International Development (DFID) handed over to the EFCC's Secretary, Adegboyega Aremo in Abuja. In a statement, Blake welcomed the donation highlighting the importance of IT equipment in combating criminal activities. “The equipment will improve the commission's forensic capabilities,” he said. Aremo thanked the UK Government for the assistance saying the initiative would further boost the commission’s effort in the fight against economic and financial crimes. He said the initial assistance of the UK Government with modern equipment would enable it commence full digital forensic analytical work. “With the latest assistance, the forensic analytical capacity of the commission would further be boosted,” Aremo said. EFCC investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud (419 fraud) and money laundering. It was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community's efforts to fight money laundering.