The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has raised concerns over the alleged misuse of the cybercrimes act to suppress free speech in Nigeria, describing it as a deliberate restriction of expression under the pretext of combating cybercrime and defamation.
Osigwe, while fielding questions from newsmen, criticized what he described as the weaponization of the law against critics, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens who voice dissent online or offline.
He, therefore, expressed displeasure that individuals are being charged, investigated and detained for alleged cybercrimes or criminal defamation, even in cases where such offences are ordinarily bailable.