Post by Oturohweroro Andrew (@andyjero)

The Nigerian Cybercrimes Act: A conspiracy of the rich against the poor in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Cybercrimes Act, enacted through a fast-tracked legislative process by the National Assembly under the guise of protecting national security and regulating digital spaces, has become an instrument of state and elite oppression. Rather than target sophisticated fraudsters, the rich and politically exposed have weaponized vague provisions— such as Section 24 on cyberstalking—to criminalize free speech, stifle investigative journalism, and silence ordinary citizens who expose corruption and oppression.

Because legal battles are expensive and time-consuming, poor citizens and independent reporters lack the financial muscle to defend themselves against state-backed intimidation; the tech-security law has been turned into a gag order for the underprivileged.

This perversion of justice is a direct consequence of how the law was conceived and rushed through the legislature without adequate public consultation or foresight regarding human rights safeguards. As economic hardship deepens, the digital platforms have become the primary megaphone for the oppressed masses to voice their grievances and escape from poverty. The traditional media is gone.
Unfortunately, the ruling class continues to exploit the structural loopholes. Instead of serving as a shield for a digital economy, the Cybercrimes Act stands as a stark reminder of how state power can be captured by the elite, to insulate themselves from accountability at the expense of the common man. This is evident in many arrests, detentions, and court cases in the country today.
For freedom of speech and accountability in Nigeria, the Cybercrime Act must be amended.

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