Assessing the Role of Digital Evidence in the Prosecution of Financial Fraud Cases in Nigeria

Ali-Momoh Betty Oluwayemisi, Ajayi Adeniyi Rachael, Oladipo Olarewaju, E Bolaji Oluwayemisi, Olabanji Faith Seyi, Bodunde Ayandayo and C Jamiu Toyin
Additional contact information
Ali-Momoh Betty Oluwayemisi: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Ajayi Adeniyi Rachael: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Oladipo Olarewaju: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
E Bolaji Oluwayemisi: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Olabanji Faith Seyi: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Bodunde Ayandayo: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
C Jamiu Toyin: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: This study explores how digital evidence functions within financial fraud prosecutions in Nigeria. In particular, it looks at its use, issues of admissibility and integrity, and its influence on conviction rates. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, primary data were obtained using questionnaires administered to 50 legal practitioners, one from each legal firm in Ondo State, Nigeria, through purposive sampling. The analysis of the data was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics, applying Eviews version 9. The results indicate that when digital evidence is a factor in cases, prosecution is more likely to be successful (coefficient =.505; p=.0021), and therefore successful prosecution is correlated with an increased prevalence of digital evidence. On the other hand, the legal admissibility of digital evidence supports a negligible and non-significant result (coefficient = -.003; p =.9842), indicating that procedural challenges are not a significant obstacle to prosecuting successfully after digital evidence has been accepted. But, conviction rates were positively and significantly correlated with the ability to obtain a successful prosecution (0.547; p =.0003). Therefore, the findings of the study show that digital evidence has significant value in the prosecution of financial fraud and is not to be considered from the standpoint of issues related to admissibility and strategy. The study recommended that there is a need for Nigeria's legal system to invest in digital forensics tools and training, standardization of evidentiary procedures, as well as continuous legal training for lawyers in order to better equip them in the utilization of digital evidence.

Date: 2025-06-10
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Asian Journal of Economics, Finance and Management , 2025, 7 (1), pp.547-557. ⟨10.56557/ajefm/2025/v7i1294⟩

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05109601

DOI: 10.56557/ajefm/2025/v7i1294

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().