Solicitor-General seeks multi-sectoral approach in fighting cybercrimes

isaac aregbesola
Nov, Thu, 2023

Judiciary

Solicitor-General seeks multi-sectoral approach in fighting cybercrimes

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By Ebere Agozie
Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor-General, on Wednesday called for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against cybercrimes in the country.
Jedy-Agba, who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, made the call at the opening of a three-day Cybercrimes Awareness Camping on Thursday in Abuja, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the US Embassy in Nigeria.
“The ministry in its effort to combat cybercrimes has put together this awareness campaign to identify some incidents that mighty compromise the rule of law, and undermine the trust of citizens in the justice system.
“There is the need for the criminal justice sector to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and adopt best practices to ensure the secure and reliable access to justice delivery that is consistent with the ideals of democracy and rule of law.
“In today’s digital age, legal professionals, judges, and law enforcement agencies depend on secure digital infrastructure to effectively carry out assigned tasks.
“Hence, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated, especially in the context of the criminal justice system and access to justice since robust and secure cyber environment is crucial for the effective functioning of the system.
According to her, ‘the federal government will continue to build capacity to be able to effectively fight Cybercrimes.
“The global nature of this menace sometimes described as phenomenon without borders” makes it imperative for governments to seek to build capacity to be able to effectively combat it and this includes awareness creation.
“This revolution in information technologies has changed society fundamentally and will probably continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
“Informational technology has in one way or the other pervaded almost every aspect of human activities: the dark side to this is the emergence of new types of crimes as well as the commission of traditional crimes by means of the new technologies which challenge existing legal concepts,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of EFCC called for corresponding action from the administration of criminal justice players sector to ensure safety of Nigerians in the cyberspace.
Olukoyede was represented by Sylvanus Tahir, the Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC.
“The ease and speed at which cybercrimes can be committed is not only disturbing but calls for corresponding action from the administration of criminal justice players sector to ensure safely of Nigerians in the cyberspace.
“This fact underscores the relevance of this awareness program as it is a demonstration of the seriousness the organizers place in the fight against cybercrime in Nigeria”.
He said that the agency had successfully investigated and prosecuted several cases of cybercrime and had so far recorded 395 convictions in Advanced Fee Fraud cases and 1084 cybercrimes convictions this 2023 and still counting.
“This statistics is a clear indication that a lot has to be done in combatting cybercrime in the nation and there is an urgent need to rev up efforts in this regard.
“The EFCC under my leadership is committed to ensuring the due and timely enforcement of all cybercrime laws in the nation.
“We are equally open to collaborations towards the realization of this mandate to rid the nation of economic and financial crimes including cybercrimes,” he said.
Some of the dignitaries represented at the event were the National Security Adviser/Chairman Cybercrimes Advisory Council, the Inspector General of Police, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
Others were the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Mater Commission among others. (NAN)