Afam Osigwe, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has voiced concerns that the Cybercrimes Act is being instrumentalized to suppress free speech in Nigeria.
During an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, February 11, Osigwe criticized the extent to which the law is used as a weapon against critics, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who express dissent, whether online or offline.
He noted that many Nigerians are facing criminal charges, investigations, and even detention for alleged cyber offenses or defamation, despite the fact that these offenses are typically bailable.
"Free speech is being stifled in Nigeria under the pretext of prosecuting individuals for cyber crimes and criminal defamation. Even in cases that are generally bailable, judges and magistrates seem to be influenced by political figures and elite interests, often denying bail without valid reasons," he stated.
Osigwe emphasized that such actions are turning the judiciary into an “oppressive instrument.”
"This constitutes a breach of the right to freedom of expression and an infringement on our democratic principles. Public officials must be held to a higher standard of accountability. If they limit citizens' ability to critique and hold them accountable, democracy is ultimately undermined. When our judges become compliant instruments to fulfill the wishes of those in power, it signifies a systemic failure, and the judiciary transforms into a mechanism of oppression itself," he expressed.
The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act was first established in 2015 and later amended in 2024 to deal with issues like cyber fraud, cyberterrorism, and cyberstalking.
A video of his remarks can be viewed below.
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