TRIVIALISING PENALTY FOR INTERNET FRAUD: REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V AIFUWA COURAGE OSASUMWEN

Abstract

The paper argues that the court judgement in the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Aifuwa CourageOsasumwen does not support the objective of the Nigerian Cybercrimes Act 2015, especially with theincreasing involvement of Nigerian youths in domestic and global internet fraud. It negates theexisting cybercrime law and practice concerning the concept of plea bargain and, consequently, astamp on Nigerian youths' perpetration of internet fraud. The court’s reliance on Section 454(1) ofthe Administration Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the basis upon which the decision was reachedarguably trivialises the offence of internet fraud. Again, when juxtaposed against similar decisions inthe United States of America, the court’s judgement falls short of any deterring effect on theproliferating nature of internet fraud.