By Perpetua Onuegbu
Global Rights, a CSO has raised concerns over the weaponisation of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by Nigeria Police Force officers to suppress dissent, intimidate journalists, and shrink Nigeria’s civic space.
This concern was contained in an Open Letter signed by the Executive Director, Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Baiyewu, the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of every citizen, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly under Sections 39 and 40.
"As well as the freedom of the press to hold the powerful accountable in our democracy (Section 22). These rights are not mere privileges.
"They are the bedrock of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, where citizens only have the opportunity to “grade” their elected officials during time-bound and seasonal elections.
"In between those elections, the Constitution empowers the people to voice dissent and express concerns when they believe governance is failing."
He said the Cybercrime Act was passed in 2015 to provide a unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria.
"It was never meant to serve as a stumbling block to free expression or as a weapon to silence criticism of government or public officials.
"Yet, troublingly, Section 24 of the Act, in particular, has been applied selectively to criminalise dissent, turning what should be civil matters—such as defamation—into criminal offences.
"In 2024, Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist, was arrested by police officers after publishing a story exposing alleged corruption within the Nigerian Presidency.
"Just this week, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, another journalist, was detained following his exposé on neglect at Kangiwa General Hospital in Kebbi State.
"These are not isolated cases. Between January and August 9, 2025, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), through its Press Attack Tracker, documented 54 verified cases of press freedom violations across Nigeria.
"The majority of these violations linked to security agencies, particularly the police. Disturbingly, many of these arrests are premised on the Cybercrime Act.
"A law originally designed to combat online fraud and other harmful cyber activities, not to police legitimate journalism or civic criticism."
Baiyewu said while Global Rights strongly supports responsible expression and urges citizens to act purposefully and ethically in their online communications.
He said using police powers to criminalise defamation under the guise of the Cybercrime Act is undemocratic and risks ushering in mass censorship and repression.
He therefore, urged the police chief to take immediate steps to safeguard the civic space and the democratic values enshrined in Nigeria 's constitution.(NAN)
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