The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the fight against cybercrime and other transnational financial crimes.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda, who spoke during the signing ceremony, commended the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and officers of the commission for maintaining a strong working relationship with the Australian Federal Police over the years.
She expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the two agencies, noting that their partnership had continued to promote the exchange of technology, intelligence and professional expertise.
According to her, cybercrime has become a major global challenge that requires countries to work together to address it effectively.
Bin-Juda also praised Nigeria for its efforts in tackling cybercrime, describing the country as one of the leading nations in the region in addressing the growing threat.
She noted that other African countries look to Nigeria for leadership in combating cyber-related offences.
Also speaking, the Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Sandra Booth, described the agreement as an important development that would further strengthen the relationship between the two law enforcement agencies.
She disclosed that the partnership between the EFCC and the Australian Federal Police began in 2004 and had produced positive results in several sensitive investigations.
According to Booth, the collaboration has covered areas such as cyber-enabled crimes, business email compromise, financial investigations and fraudulent schemes.
She expressed optimism that the new MoU would create more opportunities for cooperation, improve professional development and strengthen the exchange of knowledge and expertise between both organisations.
Booth added that the agreement would provide a clear framework for future engagements and ensure sustained cooperation between the agencies.
In his remarks, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede thanked the Australian Government and the Australian Federal Police for their continued support and cooperation with the commission.
He stressed that international partnerships had become increasingly important because financial crimes were no longer restricted to individual countries but often involved criminal networks operating across different jurisdictions.
Olukoyede explained that financial crimes committed in one country could have consequences in another, making international cooperation essential in identifying, investigating and prosecuting offenders.
He said criminals frequently operate through interconnected networks, adding that law enforcement agencies must also build strong international networks to effectively tackle their activities.
The EFCC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working with international law enforcement organisations to combat financial crimes and cyber-related offences.
He further explained that the newly signed agreement would formalise the longstanding relationship between the EFCC and the Australian Federal Police while providing a more structured framework for intelligence sharing, investigations and other joint efforts.
The partnership is expected to strengthen the capacity of both agencies to respond to emerging cyber threats, financial fraud and other organised criminal activities that cross international borders.
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