NIGERIA’S CYBERCRIME (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT 2015 AT EIGHT: CLASS ACT OR THE NEW NORMAL?

Abstract

The Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act (CPPA) 2015 is the law that governs the activities in Nigerian cyberspace. Since its inception, cybercrime has rapidly been on the increase in Nigeria. It has faced many hurdles especially calls regarding to its repeal. Literature calling for the repeal of the CPPA abounds in newspapers articles, online website et al, the reasons being given regarding its repeal range from its constitutionality of the act, other reasons include fundamental human rights breaches of the Act. Adopting a doctrinal approach the article argues that the constitutionality of the Act, fundamental human right breaches challenges is only a fragment of the inefficacy of the Act. By examining the provisions of the Act, the article unearths other deficiencies hitherto not highlighted, namely, inelegant drafting, lack of clarity, and onerous and punitive nature of the Act. Based on this, the article therefore lends credence to the argument for its amendment.