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By Taiye Agbaje

Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF) France, on Monday, said it would develop a platform, through its e-rights project, where incidences of digital rights violation can be reported and tracked in order to have verifiable statistics in Nigeria.
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director, ASF France, also known as Lawyers Without Borders, France, stated this at the E-Rights Training for Judges and Lawyers on Digital Rights in Abuja.
‘In terms of statistics of cases of digital rights violation, the e-rights project is developing a platform called, ‘The Closing Civic Spaces Platform,’ where incidences of digital rights violation can be reported by citizens, activists, journalists, etc.
“This will create a platform for us to track and be able to have a verifiable statistics of digital rights violations in Nigeria,” she said.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said the organisation would support the initiative by being proactive in responding with legal assistance for victims of digital rights violations in the country.
“The project is also going to be engaging in strategic litigations on digital rights issues as one of the strategies that we are employing to promote digital rights in the country,” she said.
The country director, who said that 30 judges and lawyer would be trained in the first phase, also said that judges and lawyers in Kano State, Lagos State and Imo would also be trained as four key states for the pilot project.

She said the capacity session was to contribute to the respective digital rights in Nigeria, particularly by promoting digital rights in various aspects looking at respect for the rights of Nigerians on digital platforms, freedom of expression, privacy rights, data protection of Nigerians on digital platforms, etc.
“We believe that human rights that are traditionally protected offline should also be protected and respected online so that’s the essence of the work we are doing on e-rights project,” she said.
The Chief Judge of FCT, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, represented by Justice Ngozika Ndukwe-Nwabulu, said technology had not only ushered in unprecedented opportunities but also exposed the world to new risks and attacks.
He said the training was critical given the increasing amount of personal data shared online and the potential for privacy violations.
“The training will also provide an insight into laws and regulations related to digital technologies, including data protection, intellectual property, cybercrime, and internet governance.
“Understanding these laws can help individuals and organisations avoid legal issues and ensure compliance.
“Digital rights training often includes cybersecurity awareness, which is crucial in protecting oneself and organisations from cyber threats, data breaches, and online harassment,” Baba-Yusuf said.
The President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, called on the judges and lawyers to rise to the challenge and stand as pillars of justice, defending the digital rights of all Nigerians.
Maikyau, represented by Chairman, NBA Abuja Branch,, Afam Okeke, also said that the training would provide the judges and lawyers with a deeper knowledge of digital rights, legislation which would focus on relevant national, regional and international digital rights legislation and standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some.of the judges at the training include Justices Nkeonye Maha and Donatus Okorowo of Federal High Court, Abuja; Justice Mimi Katsina-Alu of FCT High Court, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

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