The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Nov. 24 for hearing in a suit filed by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) over the certification of forensic professionals.
The suit, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, challenges ICAN’s authority to train and issue qualifying certificates to professionals in the field of forensic accounting.
The case was initially scheduled for mention on Tuesday but was adjourned to Nov. 24 to enable the parties to properly appear before the court.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1559/2026, was filed by CIFCFIN’s counsel, Shaibu Aruwa, SAN, with ICAN as the sole defendant.
CIFCFIN argued that ICAN lacks the statutory authority to conduct a certification program leading to the award of the Certified Forensic Accountant of Nigeria (CFAN) qualification.
The institute based its argument on the provisions of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 45, 2022.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, CIFCFIN’s Head of Legal and Corporate Services, Mohammed Arafat, alleged that ICAN’s invitation to applicants to participate in a seven-day professional certification program leading to the CFAN qualification was outside its statutory mandate.
He said the program could create confusion among members of the public over the body legally empowered to certify or license forensic professionals in Nigeria.
According to the affidavit, ICAN had invited chartered accountants, compliance managers, bankers, investment analysts, auditors, anti-corruption agency personnel and professionals from other institutions to register for the program.
CIFCFIN is asking the court to set aside and nullify the award of the CFAN qualification or any other qualification or certificate in the field and practice of forensics in Nigeria by ICAN.
It is also seeking an order directing ICAN to withdraw, retract or cease any publication, gazette notice or public representation suggesting that it has the authority to certify or license forensic professionals.
The plaintiff further wants a perpetual injunction restraining ICAN, its council and representatives from issuing, advertising or recognizing the CFAN qualification, designation, license or certification, or any title or award identical or similar to those established under CIFCFIN’s enabling law.
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CIFCFIN is also seeking a declaration that, under the relevant provisions of the 2022 Act, ICAN cannot offer a certification program culminating in the award of the CFAN qualification.
The court is expected to hear the parties’ arguments on the substantive issues when the matter comes up on Nov. 24.
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