Overview

The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 is a comprehensive Nigerian federal law that establishes a legal, regulatory, and institutional framework to address cybercrimes. Its objectives include prohibiting, preventing, detecting, prosecuting, and punishing cybercrimes; protecting critical national information infrastructure; promoting cybersecurity; and safeguarding computer systems, networks, electronic communications, data, intellectual property, and privacy rights. The Act is structured into eight parts covering objectives, protection of critical infrastructure, offences and penalties, duties of financial institutions, administration and enforcement, arrest and prosecution, jurisdiction and international cooperation, and miscellaneous provisions. Key offences include unlawful access, system interference, interception of communications, computer-related forgery and fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking, cybersquatting, child pornography, cyberterrorism, and phishing. The Act mandates registration of cybercafes, imposes duties on financial institutions regarding data retention and cooperation, establishes the Cybercrime Advisory Council and the National Cyber Security Fund, and provides for extradition and mutual assistance with foreign states. It also outlines powers of arrest, search, seizure, forfeiture, and compensation.

Download