NGE and SERAP Decry Weaponization of Cybercrimes Act to Silence Free Speech
NGE and SERAP Raise Alarm Over Cybercrimes Act AbuseThe Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have slammed the Nigerian government for weaponizing the Cybercrimes Act , particularly Section 24 , to stifle free speech and target journalists, activists, and citizens. At a Lagos press briefing, both organizations warned that the 2024 amendment to the Act fails to address its vagueness and align with a landmark 2022 ECOWAS Court ruling , which declared Section 24 unconstitutional and a violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights . Section 24: A Tool for RepressionSERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare highlighted escalating abuses: “Authorities arrest citizens for WhatsApp group posts, deploy unlawful surveillance, and use malicious prosecutions to intimidate. This isn’t just repression—it’s absurd and dangerous.” Oluwadare criticized the 2024 amendments for ignoring ECOWAS directives, leaving […]