SERAP urges Tinubu to halt cybercrimes Act abuses

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately stop the misuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act to harass, detain, or silence journalists, critics, and citizens exercising their right to free expression online.

In a statement posted via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, SERAP urged the federal government to release all individuals currently detained under the law for peacefully expressing their views and to take urgent steps to prevent further rights violations.

“We’ve urged the Tinubu administration to immediately end the use of the draconian Cybercrimes Act to target journalists, critics and other Nigerians peacefully expressing their views online, and release those in custody under the legislation,” the organization stated.

SERAP described the law’s enforcement—particularly sections criminalizing so-called “insult” and “cyberstalking”—as repressive and routinely exploited by state agents to stifle dissent, suppress press freedom, and intimidate critics.

The organization expressed deep concern over the continued application of vague and overly broad provisions of the Act, warning that they are being used to criminalize critical opinions, investigative journalism, and efforts to expose corruption in the public sector.

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According to SERAP, such actions violate the right to freedom of expression and access to information as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)—a treaty Nigeria is signatory to.

In addition to calling for the immediate release of detainees, SERAP is demanding a moratorium on the enforcement of the Cybercrimes Act while a comprehensive legal review is conducted.

The group urged the Tinubu administration to work with the National Assembly to amend or repeal provisions of the law that contravene international human rights standards.

“Beyond legal reforms,” SERAP stated, “the government must commit to safeguarding civic space and ensuring that journalists, media professionals, and citizens can express themselves freely without fear of harassment, intimidation, or arbitrary prosecution.”

The Cybercrimes Act—originally enacted in 2015 to address issues like fraud, hacking, and cyberterrorism—has increasingly drawn criticism from civil society groups, who argue that some of its provisions are now being weaponized against the press and whistleblowers.

Recent high-profile arrests and prosecutions under the Act have attracted both domestic and international condemnation, intensifying calls for urgent legislative and policy reforms to protect digital rights and uphold democratic freedoms.

SERAP’s renewed call places further pressure on the federal government to ensure that the Cybercrimes Act is no longer used as a tool for censorship and repression in a constitutional democracy.