The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Criminal Police Organisation to grant the commission access to the Interpol database.

ICPC will utilise the access in profiling politically exposed persons (PEPs), and money laundering and illicit financial flows suspects.

ICPC chairman Bolaji Owasanoye disclosed this at the end of a meeting by heads of Nigerian law enforcement agencies with top officials of Interpol in Lyon, France.

At the meeting, the ICPC boss discussed how the anti-graft agency and Nigeria could take advantage of the Interpol database in profiling suspects.

“The commission will develop the habit of issuing notices especially on high profile suspects. Such notices will be seen globally on PEPs in particular,” stated Mr Owasanoye.

He also disclosed that the agency would join the Global Focal Point Network coordinated by Interpol as part of measures to tighten the noose around corrupt and criminal persons.

The Interpol is expected to support the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria through strengthening of information sharing, utilisation of the organisation’s database of global suspects and prevention of incursion and influx of migrant terrorist fighters into Nigeria.

The Interpol briefed the Nigerian delegation on Operation Gemini, a special project focusing on trans-border organised crime involving migration, human trafficking, drug trafficking corruption and financial crimes.

The international police also held special sessions with the delegation which were devoted to international and regional cooperation in law enforcement, operational methods of Interpol and strategies for data and information sharing.

Under the MoU signed with the Interpol, the Nigerian law enforcement agencies will have unrestricted access to global criminal databases.

The Nigerian delegation to Interpol was made up of top officials of the National Central Bureau Abuja (NCBA), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

(NAN)