COMMUNIQUÉ Issued at the Conclusion of the Forensic Investigators Society, Nigeria FISN 2026 Annual Conference

The Forensic Investigators Society, Nigeria (FISN) held its annual 2026 Conference from 9th to 10^th February, 2026 at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos under the theme “Strengthening The Foundation: Infrastructure, Capacity Building and Standardisation in Nigeria Forensic ”

The Conference brought together forensic practitioners, academics, law enforcement agencies, members of the judiciary, policymakers, and allied professionals from across Nigeria.

Participants deliberated on forensic standards, crime scene management, digital and financial forensics, expert witness practice, ethics, training, and accreditation.

The Conference observed the need for:

• Harmonised forensic procedures
• Improved accreditation and competence assurance
• Stronger interface between forensic science and the justice system

Accordingly, the Conference adopted resolutions aimed at:

• Standardising forensic practice
• Strengthening ethics and expert evidence
• Expanding capacity building and CPD
• Enhancing inter-agency collaboration

FISN was mandated to disseminate the resolutions, engage relevant stakeholders, and monitor implementation outcomes.

The Conference expressed appreciation to all participants, partners, and the host institution.

Dated this 10^th  day of February, 2026

Signed
Chairman, Governing Council

Forensic Investigators’ Society Announces A-Day Seminar on Forensic Investigation of Election-Related Crimes

Forensic Investigators’ Society Announces A-Day Seminar on Forensic Investigation of Election-Related Crimes

Lagos, Nigeria – February 2026 

As Nigeria set election dates, the Forensic Investigators’ Society, Nigeria (FISN) is pleased to announce its upcoming A-Day Seminar titled “Forensic Investigation of Election-Related Crimes,” scheduled to hold on 28th March, 2026.

The seminar is designed to address critical issues surrounding election integrity and the role of forensic science in investigating and preventing electoral offences. As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic processes, the need for professional, scientific, and evidence-based approaches to election-related investigations has become increasingly important.

The event will feature expert-led discussions on key sub-themes including:

• Investigating Electoral Malpractices: The Key Principles

• Forensic Investigation of Ballot Papers

• Other emerging trends and techniques in election-related forensic investigations

This A-Day Seminar will be conducted virtually, enabling participants from across the country to join and actively engage in the discussions. The virtual format ensures broad national participation from forensic investigators, legal practitioners, law enforcement officers, electoral stakeholders, academics, and students.

According to the Society, the seminar aims to build capacity, promote best practices, and enhance professional competence in the forensic investigation of election-related crimes.

Interested participants are encouraged to register and prepare to join this impactful national conversation on strengthening electoral accountability through forensic science.

For further information and participation details, please contact the Forensic Investigators’ Society through its official communication channels.

About the Forensic Investigators’ Society

The Forensic Investigators’ Society is a professional body committed to advancing forensic science, promoting ethical investigative practices, and supporting capacity building in Nigeria and beyond.

for more info contact:

Forensic Investigators’ Society, Nigeria
www.forensicinvestigators.org.ng

07066280094, 08136794453

 

Practical Training on Questioned Document Examination for Legal Practitioners

Forensic Investigators' Society, Nigeria

 Announces Practical Training on Questioned Document Examination for Legal Practitioners

The Forensic Investigators' Society, Nigeria has announced an intensive 8-weekend training programme titled “Questioned Document Examination (QDE): A Practical Training for Legal Practitioners.”

The hybrid programme, designed for lawyers, prosecutors, judges, in-house counsel, and final-year law students, aims to strengthen the capacity of legal professionals in handling documentary evidence in litigation.

The training will cover critical areas including handwriting analysis, signature verification, detection of alterations, ink examination, forensic handling of documents, and courtroom presentation of expert evidence.

According to the organisers, the programme is designed to bridge the knowledge gap between forensic document science and legal practice, ensuring that participants are better equipped to interpret forensic reports and effectively challenge disputed documents in court.

The training will be delivered in a hybrid format (real-time online and onsite participation) and spans eight weekends.

The training fee is ₦200,000.

Interested participants can register via:
www.forensicinvestigators.org.ng

For further enquiries, visit the official website.

FORENSIC INVESTIGATORS' SOCIETY, NIGERIA (FISN) TO ENSURE UNIFORM FORENSIC STANDARD AND VALIDATED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

 FISN TO ENSURE UNIFORM FORENSIC STANDARD AND VALIDATED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

A cross section of the participants at the Annual Forensic Investigators' Conference 2026

The Forensic Investigators’ Society, Nigeria (FISN) had resolved to ensure that uniform forensic standards and validated standard operating procedures were adopted across all forensic disciplines to enhance reliability, reproducibility and evidential integrity in forensic investigation in Nigeria.

This was part of the resolution of the society reached at the end 7th International Conference of the Forensic Investigators’ Society, Nigeria themed Strengthening the Foundation: Infrastructure, Capacity Building and Standardisation in Nigerian Forensic held between Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th February, 2026 at the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Other resolution reached by members at the end of the conference include accreditation and competence, expert evidence and courtroom practice, capacity building and continuous professional development, ethics and professional responsibility, inter-agency collaboration as well as policy and legislative engagement.

Declaring the conference open, Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Lagos, Professor Lekan Aiskhia, said strengthen Nigerian justice system through forensic investigation was a means to build competent capacity for the right dispensation of justice in the country.

Allaying the fear of many Nigerians regarding the lopsidedness noticed in the nation’s judicial system, Professor Aiskhia said; “We are in a nation where about 1,200 cases may not actually receive the required judgement because somebody is not having great knowledge of the truth. With the forensic investigation and the process that it entails and the competent capacity building, it is important to say that all that will be a thing of the past”.

Professor Aiskhia however cited steps taken in building adequate capacity for the Nigeria banking sector through years of innovations and development as well as conscientious work at building competency framework which he described as important to every profession. He said; “Competency framework is another challenge we must build into so that we do not begin to allow criminals be a part of our justice system.”

In her keynote address to the conference, Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson FFIS of the Faculty of Law, Caleb University enjoined forensic experts to give their best in the quest of building trust in the Nigeria’s justice system. She said; “When trust collapses, even the most correct judgment is viewed with suspicion. This is a timely reminder that in the administration of justice, experts do not merely examine documents, they rescue truth, restore balance and save lives. Ladies and gentlemen, forensic investigators sit at a critical junction between science and law and between truth and consequence.”

According to Prof. Dada-Lawanson, realist school of jurisprudence affirmed that law is not just about was written in statutes and pages of textbooks, but everything that took place within the courtrooms because “Justice is shaped less by lofty principles and more by facts, evidence, procedure and institutional behaviour. The bad man does not ask what is just, he is already aware that the law forbids him from raping, stealing, killing another human and defrauding people. Instead, he asks what will happen to me in court? What determines that outcome? What can I do to save myself from the wrath of law?”

Second keynote speaker at the conference, Assistant Inspector General of Nigeria police, Shehu Sani Gwarzo retired, said Nigeria was in; “an era where crime is more complex, national threats more dynamic and public expectations of justice more demanding. Forensics has become the global gold standard for criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, evidence-based policing and judicial integrity.” He said importance of forensics in national security and justice could not be overemphasized because “Modern policing cannot rely on intuition, eyewitness memory, confessions or circumstantial assumptions alone” because “Criminal networks have become more sophisticated—terrorism, cybercrime, kidnapping, financial crimes, violent offences, and cross-border criminality demand a science-driven investigative response”.

AIG Gwarzo(Rtd) FFIS stated that forensic science had transformed policing from reactive to proactive as well as strengthened prosecution, reduced wrongful convictions, accelerated case resolution and restored public trust. He thereafter said; “Investing in forensic science is not optional but a national imperative” as the nation must embrace digitisation of certain police records, establish forensic units, develop cybercrime laboratories, develop academic programmes in forensic sciences and partner with international bodies.

He thereafter submitted that Nigeria could achieve a strong forensic transformation if the nation could achieve; “A national forensic institute with world-class facilities, fully digitized crime scene processes, enhance cyber and digital forensics laboratories, nationwide standardisation of forensic protocols, a national DNA database, autonomous forensic laboratories accessible to all security agencies, continuous professional education for investigators and scientists, legislative reforms strengthening forensic practice and research-driven innovation and local content development.

In her goodwill message to the conference, Director, Forensic and Chemical Monitoring at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Lagos, Mrs. Patricia Afolabi, charged forensic experts across Nigeria not to relent on building their capacities as well as standardising their processes, said; “I know that when it comes to methodologies, it’s a little bit expensive but we can collaborate and form synergy among ourselves because results are tenable in court and can stand the test of time. Standardisation is key.”

Mrs. Afolabi also urged members of the public to assist law enforcement agencies by reporting crimes committed in their localities as a way of assisting them to curb crimes in the country. “Most Nigerians will see a crime and fail to report allowing criminals to go scot-free and later turns around to blame law enforcement agencies. Kindly report any crime you see being committed and assist forensic experts to take samples for analysis which will assist the court in dispensing justice to properly rid the society of bad eggs. We are looking for a safer and healthy environment and we don’t want drug to be trafficked or abused,”

Chairman of the newly inaugurated governing council, Mr. Emmanuel Olomu FFIS, appreciated members of the society for their faith, love and support to leadership of the society which had paved the way for the global acceptance being experienced so far. The Chairman said Forensic Investigators Society, Nigeria would leave no stone unturned and ready to partner with every individual and organisation in furthering frontiers of forensic investigation in Nigeria.

Newly Inducted Fellows

Swearing in Ceremony

High point of the event was the induction of new fellows, dissolution of the pioneer executive council, inauguration of the new executives and a Governing Council for the society.

MEMBERS OF THE PIONEER EXECUTIVE  - 2020 - 2026

S/N	NAME	STATUS
1.	Professor Joan Mbagwu	President
2.	Barrister Peters Agboola	Vice President
3.	Mr. Olusola Anthony Duyilemi	Chairman, Publication and Standard
4.	Mr. Hope Afolabi Oluyede	Chairman, Membership Committee
5.	Dr Felix Akintunde	Chairman, Conference Committee
6.	Barr. Queen Oseisa Oniwon	Chairperson, Discipline and Ethics Committee
7.	Mr. Emmanuel Olomu	Registrar/Secretary

  MEMBERS OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE  - 2026-2029

S/N	NAME	STATUS
1.	Barrister Okimasi Ojong, Ph.D	President
2.	Dr Chineyemba Lydia	Vice President
3.	Barrister Tijany Fatai, Ph.D	Director, Membership Committee
4.	Engr Popoola Joshua	Event Manager
5.	Dr. Olayinka Onayemi	Director, Professional Development
6.	Dr Akpoka Augustine Obhioze	Director, Publication and Standard
7.	Dr Iwualla Caleb	Public Relations Officer
8.	Mrs. Oluwademilade Oloyede	Registrar/Secretary

MEMBERS OF GOVERNING COUNCIL - 2026-2029

S/N	NAME	STATUS
1.	Mr. Emmanuel Olomu	Chairman
2.	AIG Shehu Gwarzo (RTD)	Member
3.	Mr. Ajakaye Peters	Member
4.	Mr. Alao Sunday	Member
5.	Barrister Osisa Queen Oniwon	Member
6.	Dr Ernest Onyekachi Nnabuihe	Member
7.	Dr Abraham Olusola-Niyi	Member
8.	Mrs. Olufunke Esabu	Member
9.	Mrs. Joy Ajuma Okoh	Member
10.	Mrs. Abiola Wadoye	Member
11.	Mr. Garba Amin Mohammad	Member
12.	Mr. Hope Afolabi Oluyede	Member
13.	Professor Adedeji Oyenuga	Member
14.	DCI Isah Ibrahim Zaik	Member
15.	Professor Aderonke Thompson	Member
16.	DC Amadin Nosa (RTD)	Member
17.	Dr Hassan Musa Chiwar	Member
18.	Mrs. Oloyede Oluwademilade	Secretary