The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop using the Cybercrimes Act as a tool to suppress journalists, activists, and citizens who express their opinions online.
The two organisations raised concerns about the continued detention of individuals under the provisions of the act and demanded their immediate release.
They argued that the current application of the law undermines freedom of expression and media independence in Nigeria.
Their position was presented during a press conference titled Unchecked Injustice: How Authorities Are Weaponising the Cybercrimes Act to Stifle Peaceful Dissent and Media Freedom in Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
The event was jointly organised by SERAP and the NGE to mark World Press Freedom Day.
According to the groups, the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act contradicts both Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights standards.
They emphasised that actions taken under this law are detrimental to democratic governance and the rule of law.
SERAP and the NGE also urged all levels of government to respect peaceful dissent and uphold press freedom, noting that public accountability depends on citizens’ ability to freely criticize and question those in power.
The statement, read in part: “We are concerned that Nigerian authorities have continued to use the Cybercrime Act to normalise repression of the rights of journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, opposition politicians, artists and other Nigerians.”
“Nigerian authorities at all levels of government should immediately stop using the Cybercrimes Act and regulations disguised as broadcasting codes by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to target, intimidate and harass journalists, bloggers, critics and media houses.”
“Impunity for those who threaten, intimidate and harass journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists exacerbates the hostile environment for these defenders of constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights in Nigeria.”
“We note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms, ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.”
“Since the amendment of the Cybercrime Act in 2024, Nigerian authorities at all levels have consistently used the provisions of the Cybercrime Act, including the provisions of section 24 on ‘cyberstalking, to harass, intimidate, arbitrarily arrest and detain and unfairly prosecute users of social media, activists, and journalists.”
“Nigerian authorities at all levels increasingly use criminal defamation laws and other repressive laws to crack down on human rights and peaceful dissent, bringing frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.”
“We are also concerned about the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety and the potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and harassment, including by security agencies and politicians.”
“According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Press Attack Tracker, there have been 110 verified attacks in the year 2024. In comparison to the previous year, the press attacks between the first and third quarters of 2024 have surpassed those of the entire year in 2023.”
“We therefore call on President Bola Tinubu and his government to review the Cybercrime Act and other repressive laws for potential restrictions on free speech and press and amend them in line with constitutional and international human rights standards and to uphold the human rights of every Nigerian and media freedom.”
“We urge President Tinubu and his government to publicly call on Nigeria’s state governors, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to uphold and ensure full respect for the rights of everyone in the country, including journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.”
“We call on President Tinubu and his government, the country’s 36 governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister to genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information for all Nigerians, obey court judgments, and respect the rule of law.”
“We urge the Attorney General to push for the immediate amendment of the Cybercrimes Act and other repressive legislation and bring these laws in line with the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“We urge the Attorney General to advise President Bola Tinubu to promptly obey all outstanding court judgments, including the ECOWAS Court judgment directing the Federal Government to repeal the repressive Cybercrimes Act and bring it in conformity with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and commitments.”
“We urge the National Assembly to promptly and comprehensively review the Cybercrimes Act and other restrictive legislation and revise them as appropriate to bring them into line with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and commitments regarding human rights and media freedom.”
“We urge state governors to ensure that security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force and other authorities drop all charges against journalists, bloggers and other media workers and critics and cease further arbitrary closures of radio and television stations.”
“We urge the international community to hold Nigerian authorities to account for violations of human rights in the country, including by calling on the authorities at both the federal and state levels to immediately and unconditionally release anyone detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.”