The Legal Approach for Fighting Cybercrimes in Nigeria: Some Lessons from the United States and the United Kingdom

Abstract

In our contemporary world, internet business is now a crucial component of our day-to-day activities, not only does the internet make life easier for people, but they also bring many devastating criminal impacts upon the people, institution, nation, government and the economy. To checkmate cyberspace criminality, various countries of the world including Nigeria, have enacted laws to regulate telecommunication infrastructures, and protect and safeguard the people, organisations, institutions and the state against cyber criminals. The thrust of this study is to examine the current laws put in place by the Nigerian government for fighting cybercrimes. This study found that Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Law has played an important role in online business, particularly in the prevention and punishment of cybercrime, card and ATM fraud, internet fraud, identity theft, malicious hacking, and data theft. The research also highlighted Nigeria’s legal system’s ability to support and encourage online businesses. The work also discusses the USA and the UK legal regimes with the view of drawing lessons that Nigeria as a country can adopt in solving the problem of cybercrimes. In conclusion, the study would provide a guide as to the need for the National Assembly to enact a robust legal regime for effective cybercrime fighting in Nigeria. In the alternative, the study recommends that our legislature should reform the Cybercrime Act 2015 and other existing extant laws on cybercrimes in line with international best practices to boost investors’ and consumers’ confidence, promote economic growth and generate job opportunities for Nigeria’s youth.