FORENSIC ACCOUNTING TECHNIQUES AND FINANCIAL FRAUD OF LISTED DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA

Forensic accounting plays a vital role in the contemporary financial environment, where the detection, prevention, and investigation of fraud are critical for maintaining the integrity of financial systems. The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of forensic accounting techniques and financial fraud of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study is anchored on the Fraud Triangle is a framework developed by criminologist Donald Cressey in the 1950s. The study employed a survey research design. The population of the study consists of six (6) internal auditors of six (6) listed tier one deposit money banks operating in Bayelsa State Nigeria. The study collected primary data from the administration of a well structured questionnaire on the entire population which was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, Maximum and Minimum values) and inferential statistics (correlation analysis and regression analysis) to determine the effects of the independent variables on the dependent variables. The findings showed that fraud investigation practices have a positive but insignificant effect on the detection of financial fraud of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Litigation support service has a negative insignificant effect on the detection of financial fraud of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Fraud expert consultancy has a negative insignificant effect on detection of financial fraud of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Based on these findings, the study recommended that listed deposit money banks should establish forensic accounting departments and recruit competent employees. Proactive measures that identify red flags. Finally, listed deposit money banks should invest in modern technology.