FG moves to fight cybercrime through policies, legislation

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) said on Tuesday that the Federal Government has taken steps, including the introduction of sound domestic policies and legislations to fight cybercrime in the country.

Malami gave the assurance in Abuja during a meeting between government officials and the delegation of the Council of Europe on an initial assessment visit to Nigeria.

The event also witnessed the inauguration of the Global Action Against Cyber Crime (GLACY) project national coordination team.

Malami whose massage was read by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Umar Etsu Mohammed also told the delegation that the country has started implementing the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy which was adopted In February 5, 2015.

According to him, the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ng-CERT) has been commissioned and now in operation, adding also that the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015, signed into law on 15th May of the same year, outlines the legal and institutional framework needed to drive the nation’s preparedness to fight cybercrime and protect Nigeria’s national interest in its engagements in cyberspace and has also made provisions for effective international cooperation.

“The Cybercrime Advisory Council was inaugurated on April 20, 2016 to reinforce implementation of the Act. The process of approval for full accession to the Convention on Cybercrime is at an advanced stage”, he said.

The Chief Law Officer of the Federation however noted that gaps still existed in capacity building and that considering the fast evolving technological advancement, the widening threat landscape and the borderless nature of electronic crimes, cyber capacity building cannot be over emphasised.

He said, “The way forward is through multilateral cooperation and collaboration. It is in this light that we welcome this initial assessment visit to identify and define the priorities that criminal justice authorities in Nigeria have to face to pinpoint which area to cover through the capacity building of the GLACY Project through direct consultation with stakeholders and to formally inaugurate the requisite GLACY – National Coordinating Team that will support the council of Europe in the multi-sector coordination and implementation of the GACY- Programme in Nigeria.

The AGF said the consultation will serve the parties to further identify the capacity building, issues, and challenges. Particularly in the area of legislation, capacity of investigators, digital forensic personnel, prosecutors, Judges and trainers and the requisite training, which is fundamentally relevant to close the gaps and strengthen the efficacy of criminal justice stakeholders in the fight against criminalities in the on-line environment, which is needed for both political and economic development of the nation.