ADEBAYO BENEDICT SOARES
Lawyer, Prosecutor, Counter-Fraud, Anti-Corruption And Counter-Cybercrime Professional
Abuja,FC
Summary
Experienced lawyer, prosecutor, counter-fraud, counter-cybercrime and anti-corruption professional with a strong background in economic crime and fraud investigation. Committed to expanding skill set and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends. Ambition is to reach the pinnacle of career while remaining open to new opportunities and challenges that may arise along the way.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Certifications
Work History
Anti-corruption and Investigations Coordinator
Norwegian Refugee Council
Abuja (Secondment), FCT
11.2024 - Current
- Training delivery on anti-corruption, including induction for new staff at Country, area and field offices
- Handle allegations and ensure strategic and compliant approach to investigations procedures in accordance with NRC investigation routines
- Support in Risk prevention and ensuring that all units at country and field levels have their Corruption Risk Mapping (CRM) setup, monitored, updated and reported according to standard operating procedures
- Manage Nigeria office investigations tracker and ensure it is updated with all received corruption allegations
- Ensure updated reporting channels and distribute same across all sites where NRC operates in Nigeria
- Ensure Corruption Risk Mapping is setup and running across NRC Nigeria office
- Provide Corruption Risk Mapping monthly, quarterly and annual reports for Country Management Group
- Ensure all received allegations follow channeling process based on investigations standard operating procedure
- Ensure all investigations are compliant with investigations toolkit
- Provide training, advice and guidance on anti-corruption and ensure anti-corruption policy compliance
- Ensure all investigation reports are efficient and signed based on investigations standard operating procedure
Prosecutor
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Abuja, FCT
11.2014 - Current
- Investigation and prosecution of various economic and financial crimes such as fraud, cybercrime, bribery, corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, counterfeiting, illegal charge transfers, futures market fraud, fraudulent encashment of negotiable instruments, computer and credit card fraud, contract scam, document fraud and document forgery etc
- Manage and coordinate a team of six prosecutors/legal officers to ensure progress and organization of all cases
- Train and develop all teams and departments on capacity building, including investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes
- Strategized, planned, and executed prosecutions which increased success rate of all assigned cases by yielding 70% conviction rate
- Participated in several investigations and prosecutions of economic and financial crimes with investigators, financial institutions, other law enforcement agencies and compliance departments
- Successful resolution of all cases assigned and exceeded yearly target by 72%
- Provide legal expertise and advisory services on various economic and financial crimes and assist with implementation
- Review and analyze materials/evidence gathered during investigation
- Conduct legal research and facts investigation in preparation for prosecution and ensure substantial justice
- Developed practical solutions that successfully addressed investigative, operational, and legal challenges
- Provide investigative strategy and techniques, legal expertise, guidelines, and ensure legal compliance during investigation and prosecution of cases
- Examine and manage information/evidence in accordance with existing standard operating procedures
- Draft and review legal documents such as legislative bills, Court processes, and other legal correspondences
- Draft legal submissions, memorandum, correspondence, letters, and other documents
- Manage, review, and prepare reports, executive briefs, action plans, and gather relevant documents and information on assigned cases and other related issues
- Support and participate in various economic and financial crimes investigations such as interview of witnesses, and suspects where necessary, proffering investigative strategy, plan, techniques, legal expertise, guidelines, and ensuring legal compliance
- Provide legal assistance and advice on cases and other various legal issues such as ensuring compliance with judicial, legislative, and executive orders
- Provide legal assistance and advice on legal issues such as detention of suspects and other persons arrested for violations of extant laws
- Vet and approve criminal complaints from victims of economic and financial crimes with team members
- Develop and Negotiate plea bargain terms with economic and financial crime offenders and their legal representatives, victims, stakeholders, and other interested parties
- Provide general and legal assistance to resolve complaints or requests raised by suspects or their Attorneys
- Ensure compliance with human right laws, rights of suspects in custody, rights of witnesses and victims
- Institute and conduct proceedings to identify, trace, freeze, recover, and confiscate proceeds/assets derived from corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist activities, and other financial crimes
- Dealing with matters connected with extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters involving economic and financial offences
- Increased victim support by working closely with victim advocates to ensure their needs were met throughout the legal process.
- Collaborated with law enforcement agencies for successful investigations, resulting in a higher conviction rate.
- Enhanced department efficiency with thorough case management, organization, and prioritization.
- Developed strong working relationships with judges, defense attorneys, and court personnel to maintain professionalism during trials.
- Educated public on crime prevention strategies through regular community outreach initiatives and speaking engagements.
Education
Executive Diploma - Anti-Corruption & Diplomacy
International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA)
Laxenburg, Austria 03.2024 - 07.2024
MSc - Economic Crime & International Criminal Justice
University of Portsmouth
United Kingdom 10.2021 - 11.2023
Bachelor of laws -
Lagos State University
Lagos, Nigeria 05.2005 - 10.2011
Nigerian Law School - BL
Council of Legal Education
Abuja, FCT 10.2011 - 11.2012
Skills
Investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes
Data analysis
Problem solving
Open source investigations
Handling confidential information
Victim handling
Multicultural environments
Legal procedures
Court testimony
Legal advice
Investigation reports
Suspect and witness interview
Tracing and identifying fraudulent/suspicious transactions
Fraud detection and Prevention
Academic research
Investigative research
Legal research
Report writing
Anti-money laundering
International laws, Treaties and Conventions
National and International anti-corruption laws
Legal and investigative compliance
Microsoft Office/Suite
Interpersonal and communication skills
Planning and organization
Teamwork
Critical and logical reasoning
Legal drafting
Investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes
Multitasking and organization
Administrative leadership
Task prioritization
Certification
Certified Cybercrime Investigator (CCCI), National White Collar Crime Centre, USA
Affiliations
- National White Collar Crime Centre, USA (NW3C)
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitration (UK)
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- International Association of Prosecutors (IAP)
Managerial Positions
- Deputy Head, Legal and Prosecution Department, EFCC Uyo Zonal Directorate, April 2022 - October, 2023.
- Acting Head, Legal and Prosecution Department, EFCC Uyo Zonal Directorate, October, 2023- June, 2024.
- Deputy Head, Legal and Prosecution Department, EFCC Uyo Zonal Directorate, June, 2024- Present.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Ensure policy implementation within the department.
- General administration of the department.
- Liaise and collaborate with prosecutors and law enforcement agents in other agencies.
- Constitute and supervise teams within the department.
- Collaborate with heads of investigation units in resolving complex investigation issues.
- Provide guidance and mentorship.
Trainings/Conferences/Courses
- Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) Guidelines, Procedure and Application.
- Administration of Criminal Justice and Anti-Corruption Training Workshop for investigators and Prosecutors.
- New Trends in Money laundering and other financial Crimes.
- Blockchain and Internet of things, Master class training.
- Capacity building training for economic and financial crime investigators and prosecutors.
- International Criminal Evidence (Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights).
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).
- Operational Analysis of suspicious transaction reports.
- Search warrants and digital evidence.
- Introducing digital evidence in court.
- Training of the Trainer (ToT), EFCC Academy.
- International Association of Prosecutors Conference, Tbilisi, Georgia.
- International Association of Prosecutors Conference, London, United Kingdom.
- Counter fraud, Cybercrime and Forensic Accounting Conference, Portsmouth United Kingdom.
Promotions
- Deputy Detective Superintendent, 2014-2017
- Senior Detective Superintendent, 2017-2021
- Superintendent, 2021- Present
Accomplishments
- Trainer at a state government owned Bank in Nigeria on corruption, money laundering/counter financing of terrorist laws, regulations, compliance, and guidelines.
- Trainer on public procurement laws viz-a-viz procurement fraud and corruption at a state government organized event in Nigeria.
- Speaker at the 28th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors in London, United Kingdom.
- Speaker at the 13th Counter fraud, Cybercrime and Forensic Accounting Conference, in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Conducted continuous professional training and capacity building for economic and financial crimes investigators and prosecutors within my formation.
- Conducted orientation sessions for Nigerian youths on economic and cybercrime issues.
- Review committee member, National Anti-corruption Strategy.
- Secured more than 100 convictions in various financially motivated economic crime cases.
- Provided operational and investigative support leading to the successful resolution of complex financial crime cases and recovery of criminal assets.
- Secured the 2nd ever cybercrime trial conviction in EFCC.
- Received a written commendation in a court judgment from a federal judge.
- Prosecuted one of Nigeria's most notorious investment fraudsters and secured a conviction.
- Supervised and led the prosecuting team that secured the conviction of a cybercrime academy operator.
- Received an Award of Recognition by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN).
Timeline
Anti-corruption and Investigations Coordinator
Norwegian Refugee Council
11.2024 - Current
Executive Diploma - Anti-Corruption & Diplomacy
International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA)
03.2024 - 07.2024
MSc - Economic Crime & International Criminal Justice
University of Portsmouth
10.2021 - 11.2023
Prosecutor
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
11.2014 - Current
Nigerian Law School - BL
Council of Legal Education
10.2011 - 11.2012
Bachelor of laws -
Lagos State University
05.2005 - 10.2011
Certified Cybercrime Investigator (CCCI), National White Collar Crime Centre, USA
Certified Economic Crime Forensic Examiner (CECFE), National White Collar Crime Center, USA
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Texas, USA
Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitration (ACIArb), Chartered Institute of Arbitration, UK
License to Practice Law (BL), Nigerian Law School
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