The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has assured the Delegation from the Council of Europe of the government continued commitment for partnership and collaboration in strengthening its capacity to tackle cybercrime.
He gave this assurance at the meeting with the Delegation of the Council of Europe on an Initial Assessment visit to Nigeria and the Inauguration of the GLACY+ Project National Coordination Team on Tuesday April 24, 2018 in Abuja.
Represented by the Director Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Etsu Umar, emphasized that Nigeria had taken steps through domestic policies and legislation to fight cybercrime; adding that National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy was adopted on the 5th of February, 2015 and its implementation had commenced.
Malami explained that, ‘’ the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 signed into law on 15th May, 2015 outlines the legal and institutional framework needed to drive the nation’s preparedness to fight cybercrime and protect Nigeria’s national interests in its engagements in cyberspace, and has made provisions for effective international cooperation”.
“The Cybercrime Advisory Council was inaugurated on 20th April 2016 to reinforce the implementation of the Act. The process of approval for full accession to the Convention on Cybercrime is at an advanced stage”, he disclosed.
Convinced about the positive outcome of the visit, Malami said, ‘’judging from the commitment, enthusiasm and sense of concern exhibited by all the Stakeholders you will be consulting with, I am convinced that the objectives of this visit will be met and our country would have taken a further crucial step in the fight against cybercrime, guided only by the desire to advance our common interests”.
He commended the Council of Europe, for the work and vision of helping to protect societies worldwide from the threat of cybercrime through the Convention on Cybercrime and its Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism, the work of the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) and the technical capacity building programmes on cybercrime and electronic evidence under the GLACY+Project.
Earlier in his remarks, the Project Manager, Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) of the Council of Europe and Head of the Delegation, Mr. Matteo Lucchetti said the aim of the visit was to kick start a whole programme of activities bothering on capacity building through handling and tackling compelling issues of cybercrime as well as recording evidence.
According to him, its approach is building capacity in order to be strong in the regions, thereby reaching neighboring countries. He added that some Judges and Prosecutors under ECOWAS region participated in the training held in Ghana.
He disclosed that continents like North America, Asia and Africa are participatory and that Nigeria is a strong candidate of GLACY+Project, and one of the priority countries since she was invited. He added that the project would last till 2021 and it could be extended to one additional year.
Lucchetti noted that one of the goals of the GLACY+ is to establish a National Team that would carry out the activities and also to be at the entry point. He emphasized on the collaboration of the National Team as an essential project in the fight against cybercrime.
Head, Cyber Crime Prosecution Unit (CCPU), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. George –Maria Tyendezwa, equally in his remarks, said that no key Stakeholder in the fight against cybercrime would be left behind.
Tyendezwa stated that, working collectively would improve the requisites skills and capacities needed for the way forward. He said, “working collectively, they would become stronger and attain the requisites skills and capacities needed to drive both detention, prosecution, investigation as well as requisites international cooperation to help curb the menace of cybercrime”.
The 17-man National Coordinating Team on Global Action Against Cybercrime (GLACY+) inaugurated by the AGF is led by the Head, Cyber Crime Prosecution Unit (CCPU) of the Ministry, Mr. George- Maria Tyendezwa as the National Coordinator. Other members are; Tukur Mohammed, Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit(NFIU) EFCC, Gilbert Tor and representatives from Military, Paramilitary, Federal High Court, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Central Bank of Nigeria among others.
Ngozi Iheuwa
For; Deputy Director
