Before the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (“the Act”) was enacted, Nigerian
law enforcement and prosecutors were hamstrung in prosecuting cybercrimes, due to
inherent limitations in ‘prior era’ legislation like the Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(Establishment) Act 2004. The EFCC Act could not cater for prevention of threats to
communication system and digital crimes. In the wake of increasing digitalization, the need
for responsive legislative initiatives to deter ingenious cybercrimes became painfully evident.
Hence, the Act. This article reviews the Act, and highlights areas of improvements through
legislative amendment.
