Global human rights organization Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the Nigerian authorities’ ongoing misuse of the Cybercrimes Act to stifle freedom of expression and target activists, journalists, and social media users.
The organization is calling for immediate measures to protect free speech in the country.
According to Amnesty International, Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act is vaguely and ambiguously worded, hence, it has become a manipulative tool in the hands of Nigerian authorities to oppress human rights defenders in the country.
The organisation said, “The Nigerian authorities have been using the draconian Cybercrimes Act to undermine freedom of expression.
“Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 is vaguely worded and ambiguous.
“The section has been relied upon by the Nigerian authorities to violate the rights to freedom of expression of human rights defenders, activists, bloggers, journalists and social media users.”
The rate at which the Nigeria Police Force is charging critics and activists with cybercrime has drawn attention to the Nigerian authorities’ ongoing misuse of the Cybercrimes Act to undermine freedom of expression.
In a case filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, human rights activist and the convener of the RevolutionNow movement Omoyele Sowore is accused of cyberbullying and endangering police officers, among other charges after he exposed the age falsification saga within the Nigerian Police Force and also calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun who is by law ought to have retired.
Sowore’s case is just one example of the numerous human rights activists, journalists, and social media users who have faced prosecution, harassment, and imprisonment under the Cybercrimes Act.
The broad and vague language of the Act has enabled its misuse as a tool for stifling dissent and targeting individuals who speak out against the government or powerful entities in Nigeria.
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