Members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Justice on Monday criticized Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke over the alleged plot to stall ongoing moves to criminalize cybercrime in the country and enforce stiff punishment on offenders.
Speaking at the public hearing on the bill, which seeks to amend the Criminal and Penal codes Act 2004, Adoke’s representative, Alabo Wakoma urged the House to discontinue the exercise, as the ministry is pushing for an executive bill that would comprehensively address cybercrime.
Differing from the AGF’s position, however, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) vehemently censured the stance of the country’s chief legal officer.
The NBA proposed a fine of N20m and a punishment of 20 years imprisonment to convicts, as deterrent to others.
Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde lauded the efforts of the lawmakers, noting that the “phenomenal” amendment of the cyber-crime law would help to reduce the rate of economic crime in the country. However, he observed that courts may be unable to interpret many of the words used in the draft and advised the redefinition of some of the words in the draft bill clearer interpretation.
Other stakeholders, including African ICT Aliance, Law Reform Commission, Cyber Security Africa, Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as well as the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) opposed the AGF’s stance.
Expressing unflinching support for the proposed amendments, which seek to provide for offences and penalties relating to computer misuse and cyber-crimes, they emphasised the need for deliberate actions towards checking the menace, which is capable of hurting the country’s economy deeply.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the committee, Ali Ahmad lamented that activities of hackers and internet fraudsters, (otherwise known as Yahoo Boys) are assuming dangerous dimension and have resulted in loss of confidence in the electronic banking sub-sector.
Reacting to the AGF’s submission, Ahmad cautioned against frivolous and lackadaisical attitude of Adoke to the exercise, reaffirming the House’s commitment towards the amendment and saying “We are in a hurry to make good laws and cannot wait for a bill that may not come in good time.”
