The federal government has signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom (UK) to combat the menace of cybercrime between the two countries.
At the MoU signing ceremony in Abuja, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN signed on behalf of the federal government, while the Minister of State, Home Affairs of the UK, Hon. Lord David Hanson, signed for the United Kingdom.
There was also the launch of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) by the AGF, an apparent response to crave for a well coordinated and robust approach to fighting cybercrimes as contemplated in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.
In his remarks at the event, Fagbemi said the launch of the JCTC is the birth of a vision built on a collaborative approach to combating the menace of cybercrime as well as a vision that finds its foundation in the principles of synergy, coordination and mutual respect among institutions committed to justice.
The AGF said while there is the need for a national legal framework for combating cybercrime, it is important to note that laws alone cannot win battles, adding that there is the need to equip, unite and empower the people who interpret, enforce, and apply the laws.
An effective criminal justice response according to him requires seamless cooperation between relevant actors – the investigators and prosecutors, noting that, cybercriminals may exploit lack of coordination.
Members of the JCTC are drawn from, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPFNCCC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (NgCert), from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Federal High Court of Nigeria.