Telecom & Digital · Amended

Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015

Nigeria's first dedicated cybercrime statute — later amended by the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.

Signed
2015-05-15
Assented by
Status
Amended
01 Background

The Cybercrimes Act 2015 created the legal framework for prohibiting, preventing and prosecuting cybercrime. It criminalises hacking, identity theft, e-fraud, child pornography and cyberstalking, and imposes duties on ISPs, telcos and banks to retain data and cooperate with ng-CERT. Its section 24 cyberstalking provision was widely litigated and was amended by the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.

02 Key provisions · 4
§ 01
Criminalises hacking, e-fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking
§ 02
Data-retention and cooperation duties on ISPs/telcos/banks
§ 03
Establishes ng-CERT coordination
§ 04
Section 24 (cyberstalking) — later amended in 2024
03 What changed in practice
First comprehensive cybercrime law
Amended 2024 to narrow the cyberstalking offence
04 Who it affects
Internet usersISPs/telcosBanksLaw enforcement
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