Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately end the abuse of the Cybercrime Act, which they say is being weaponised against journalists, activists, and citizens peacefully expressing their views online.
They also demanded the unconditional release of individuals currently detained under the law, warning that its misuse undermines human rights and democratic principles under Tinubu’s administration.
In a joint press conference held on World Press Freedom Day at the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, the two organisations decried the use of the amended Cybercrime Act—particularly Section 24, which criminalises so-called “cyberstalking”—as a tool to target dissent.
The use of laws that don’t conform with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards, such as the Cybercrime Act, erodes democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria,” they said.
The press conference, themed “Unchecked Injustice: How Authorities Are Weaponizing the Cybercrimes Act to Stifle Peaceful Dissent and Media Freedom in Nigeria,” saw both groups call on authorities at all levels to tolerate peaceful dissent and protect press freedom.
They described Section 24 of the Act as “vaguely worded, arbitrary, and prone to abuse,” saying it has been used to harass, arrest, and prosecute journalists, bloggers, and activists for publishing even factual content online.
The groups also criticised the National Broadcasting Commission for deploying broadcast regulations as an additional layer of repression, accusing the regulator of working to stifle critical voices.
We are deeply concerned about the normalisation of repression in Nigeria.
Journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders now face threats, detentions, malicious prosecutions, and unlawful arrests simply for doing their work,” the organisations said.
They referenced a 2022 ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice which found Section 24 of the Act inconsistent with international human rights standards and ordered the Nigerian government to amend it to align with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Despite the 2024 amendment, the section remains problematic. It retains a dangerously broad definition of ‘cyberstalking’ that continues to enable violations of fundamental rights,” they warned.
Nigeria has dropped 10 places to 122nd in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, the country recorded 110 verified attacks on the press in 2024 alone—surpassing the total for all of 2023.
SERAP and NGE called on President Tinubu to lead a comprehensive review of the Cybercrime Act and other repressive laws to ensure alignment with Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations.
They urged the Attorney General to push for the repeal or amendment of Section 24 and comply with existing court judgments, including the ECOWAS ruling.
They also called on governors, law enforcement agencies, and security operatives to stop persecuting journalists and critics, and to drop all pending charges under the Cybercrime Act.
No one should be detained for peacefully exercising their rights,” they stated, urging the international community to hold Nigerian authorities accountable.
Notable participants at the press conference included media professionals and civil society leaders such as Richard Akinnola; NGE President, Eze Anaba; former Guardian Editor-in-Chief, Martins Oloja; and Bukola Coker of Channels TV.
Others in attendance included editors from Daily Trust, The Sun, The Guardian, Silverbird TV, News Telegraph, Daily Independent, The Nation, Radio Lagos, Cool/Wazobia News, Miliki FM, and Radio 1 FRCN, alongside Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, and Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, NGE General Secretary.
