EFCC, Australian Police Sign MoU To Tackle Cybercrime

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in tackling cybercrime and other transnational financial crimes.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda, commended EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and officers of the commission for maintaining a cordial working relationship with the Australian Federal Police over the years.

“Chairman, I want to say a big thank you to you, your leadership, your agency and your amazing officers who have worked closely with the Australian Federal Police,” she said.

Bin-Juda said Nigeria and Australia had sustained cooperation through the exchange of technology, intelligence and professional advice, adding that the partnership had strengthened relations between both countries.

She described cybercrime as a global concern requiring joint efforts and commended Nigeria for its role in addressing the threat across the region.

“This is an area of interest and importance, not only to Australia and Nigeria but also globally. Cyber matters are affecting many countries, and Nigeria is one of those leading countries in the region. Other African countries look to Nigeria for leadership in this aspect. I commend you for your efforts,” she said.

Also speaking, Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Sandra Booth, described the agreement as an important step towards strengthening cooperation between the two agencies.

She disclosed that the partnership between the EFCC and AFP dated back to 2004 and had yielded results in sensitive investigations, cyber-enabled crimes, business email compromise, financial investigations and scams.

“We are very grateful for this relationship that we have with you. I look forward to the new MoU providing new opportunities for us to work together, open new horizons, strengthen our relationship and promote professional development between our organisations,” she said.

Booth expressed confidence that the agreement would provide a framework for sustained cooperation, mutual support and the exchange of expertise between both agencies.

She described the signing as a new phase in the relationship, saying it would help define the direction of future cooperation.

In his remarks, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede thanked the Australian Government and the Australian Federal Police for sustaining the partnership with the commission.

He said the EFCC remained open to international collaboration, particularly in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, given their increasingly transnational nature.

“We have discovered that financial crimes take a transnational dimension. What affects Nigeria inevitably affects Australia. That is why countries have to come together because criminals always work together,” he said.

Olukoyede said the interconnected nature of criminal networks made cooperation among law enforcement agencies across different jurisdictions necessary.

“There is a network of criminals, and for us to fight this network, we must also network as countries that are serious about the fight against such crimes. That is why we are always open to this kind of collaboration,” he said.

He explained that the MoU would formalise the longstanding relationship between the two agencies and provide a more structured framework for cooperation in tackling financial and cyber-enabled crimes.