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

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.