Nigeria on Tuesday signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom to combat the menace of cybercrimes in the two countries.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also launched the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC), in response to the need for a coordinated and robust approach to fighting cybercrimes as contemplated in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
Mr Fagbemi, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian government, said the initiative was a transformative stride by the government to put an end to cybercrimes in the country.
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“The Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes was birthed in response to the need for a coordinated and robust approach to fighting cybercrimes as contemplated in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.”
According to Mr Fagbemi, the initiative marks a bold and transformative stride in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“Today is not merely the kick-start of a project, it is the birth of a vision, a vision built on a collaborative approach to combating the menace of cybercrime.
” A vision that finds its foundation in the principles of synergy, coordination, and mutual respect among institutions committed to justice,” he said.
The minister said that although cybercrime was complex and constantly evolving, and even though there was a national legal framework for combating it, it was important to note that laws alone did not win battles.
“It is the people who interpret, enforce, and apply these laws that must be equipped, united, and empowered to act swiftly, cohesively, and effectively.”
He also said that an effective criminal justice response required seamless cooperation between relevant actors, that is, the investigators and prosecutors.
“International cooperation as a tool can only be effective if at the national level, there is collaboration which is constantly being strengthened, and cybercriminals may exploit a lack of coordination.”
For the part of the British government, the Minister of State, David Hanson, said his government was pleased to support and help Nigeria combat cybercrime.
He said that the team would enhance the government’s approach to crime and also help to improve the growth of the economies of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He said the UK government was ready to help Nigeria combat fraud and other financial crimes that impede the development of Nigeria, adding that cybercrime was a critical area that inhibited economic growth and development.
Also speaking, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, said that the collaborative efforts between Nigeria and the UK would undoubtedly enhance both countries’ capacity to
investigate, prosecute, and ultimately deter sophisticated criminal activities.
“Today marks not just an agreement on paper, but a tangible demonstration of our collective resolve to confront the escalating threat of cybercrimes.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, where digital space permeates every facet of our lives, the insidious reach of cybercriminals poses a grave danger to our economies, our institutions, and the very fabric of our society.
“The challenges presented by cybercrime are multifaceted and transcend national borders. No single nation or agency can effectively combat this menace in isolation.
“It demands a unified front, a pooling of resources, and a harmonisation of our expertise,” Mr Tsoho said.
He was optimistic that the MoU would embody the spirit of collaboration, foster a framework for seamless cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint operations among the two country’s respective entities.
Mr Tsoho, who was represented by Inyanga judge of the Federal High Court, Inyang Ekwo, appealed to both teams not to underestimate the task ahead as cybercriminals were often highly organised, technologically adept, and operated with a global reach.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the team comprises the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPFNCCC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Others are the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (NgCert), from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Federal High Court.
Cybercrime menace in Nigeria
EFCC has led Nigeria’s charge against cybercrime over the years.
But despite the agency’s annual high conviction rate, with thousands of cybercrime suspects jailed annually, the menace grows and continues to draw negative attention to Nigeria as a major destination for online fraudulent activities targeting victims around the world.
Many Nigerians, found to be part of or leading international cybercrime syndicates, have been arrested, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced in the United States and other countries in recent years.
In October last year, the EFCC inaugurated the 24/7 Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk, underscoring the urgent need to tackle the rising incidence of the crime, which is evolving in scope and dimensions at a speed it is hard for Nigeria’s legal development to catch up with.
EFCC chairperson, Ola Olukoyede, said during the event that cybercrime cost Nigeria $500 million in 2022 alone. He said the losses were projected to reach $10.5 trillion globally by 2025.
He recalled that the EFCC secured more than 3,400 convictions related to cybercrime and recovered significant assets for victims in 2024. He said cybercrime suspects constitute most of the convicted criminals.
According to him, cybercrime had become so entrenched in Nigeria that it “can’t be left to the EFCC alone. It’s a collective responsibility.”
Some of the forms of cybercrimes that are common among Nigerians are Business email compromise (BEC), romance scams, electronic fraud, and identity theft.
Just about two months after the launch of the EFCC’s 24/7 Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk, the commission uncovered and arrested a syndicate of 792 suspects, including mostly foreigners, in Lagos.
arrested 792 suspects for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam.
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