EXAMINATION OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATING CYBERCRIMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This article found cybercrime to have emerged as one of the most potent threats to Nigerian contemporary governance, economic stability, national security, and the protection of fundamental rights in this digital age. Nigeria, like many rapidly digitising states, was found to have responded by enacting specialised legislations and established multiple enforcement and regulatory institutions. This article found that these developments notwithstanding, persistent concerns remain regarding the effectiveness, coordination, constitutional compliance, and practical enforcement of the country’s cybercrime legal framework. This article therefore examined the legal frameworks for combating cybercrimes in Nigeria, assessing their scope, operational performance, structural challenges, rights implications, and reform prospects. To addressed the missing gap found, the article, inter alia, addressed the following issues: to what extent does the existing Nigerian legal framework effectively address the different forms of cybercrimes in Nigeria? How do the policy gaps and enforcement challenges undermine the fight against cybercrimes in Nigeria? The aim and objectives of the study were achieved by examining the provisions and enforcement framework of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act 2015 and 1999 constitution. The doctrinal methodology was adopted in this article thus statutes, case law, juristic and non-juristic works contained textbooks, journals, internet, etcetera to achieve the aim and objectives of this article. The article found, inter alia, that Nigeria possesses a substantially developed but operationally constrained cybercrime governance system. The article recommended legal and policy reforms for a comprehensive cybercrime regime in Nigeria among other recommendations.