Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has strongly condemned Nigeria’s Cyber Crimes Act, describing it as a tool frequently misused to suppress dissent and stifle freedom of expression. Amnesty International raised concerns about the act’s potential to be exploited by authorities to silence critical voices and hinder accountability, further contributing to the deterioration of Nigeria’s human rights landscape.
Amnesty’s statement is in reaction to the Nigerian police trial of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, citing Cybercrime laws, based on a petition written by legal luminary, Afe Babalola, who is currently facing backlashes for the alleged abuse of powers.
In a statement on Thursday, the organisation criticised the act for stifling dissent, saying, “The act had already shrunk the civic space and created a climate of fear.”
Amnesty International further argued that the misuse of the law is undermining fundamental rights. “Manipulation of the act is also fueling attacks on freedom,” the group asserted.
The Cyber Crimes Act, enacted in 2015, was intended to address cybercrimes but has been accused of being exploited to target activists, journalists, and critics of the government.
The statement reads, “Nigeria’s Cyber Crimes Act is one of the most repressive legislations frequently used to gag freedom of expression and prevent accountability.
“The act had already shrunk the civic space and created a climate of fear. Manipulation of the act is also fueling attacks on freedom.”
Amnesty International had on Wednesday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, who is being detained by the Nigeria Police Force in Ekiti State.
Amnesty International Nigeria said that in the Nigerian police custody, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency, adding that the police interrogation centers across the country are also notorious locations of possible violations.
The global human rights organization warned that President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government must end the escalation of clampdown on dissenting voices in the country and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their fundamental rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.
In a short statement issued on its social media account, Amnesty International said, “Dele Farotimi must be immediately and unconditionally released. In custody of Nigeria Police, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency.
“Police Interrogation centers are also notorious locations of possible violations.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government must end this escalating clampdown on dissenting voices and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their human rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.”
