Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its fight against cybercrime as justice sector stakeholders call for enhanced digital evidence management, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and continuous professional training to keep pace with rapidly evolving cyber threats.
The renewed commitment was reaffirmed at the conclusion of a four-day specialised training on Cybercrime, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Evidence held in Lagos for members of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) and designated Federal High Court judges.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, said cybercrime has expanded beyond conventional online fraud to include AI-powered scams, deepfakes, voice cloning, ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency-related crimes, identity theft, and other sophisticated digital offences. He stressed that tackling these emerging threats requires a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach involving investigators, prosecutors, regulators, and forensic experts.
The training also focused on improving the recovery, preservation, and presentation of electronic evidence while promoting stronger cooperation among justice sector institutions. Participants noted that effective collaboration and adherence to due process are essential to improving investigations and securing successful prosecutions.
Organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) under the Netherlands-funded Building an Environment Free of Human Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons (TIPVAP) Project, the programme also highlighted the growing role of technology in enabling organised crime and human trafficking.
Stakeholders concluded that sustained investment in digital skills, modern investigative techniques, and international cooperation will be critical to future-proofing Nigeria’s response to cybercrime and other technology-enabled offences.
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