•AGF hails Joint Case Team, MoU
The United Kingdom (UK) has assured Nigeria of its support in the efforts to address the growing challenges of cybercrime and fraud in the country.
It noted that the nation’s ability to address these challenges will boost its economic development and enhance the relationship between the two countries.
The UK’s Minister of State, Home Affairs, David Hanson, stated this yesterday in Abuja at the launch of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes (JCTC) and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on tackling cybercrime between Nigeria and the UK.
Describing the signing of the MOU as historic, Hanson stressed that the need to tackle issues relating to cybercrime and fraud is very important to Nigeria and the UK.
He added: “We’ve been very pleased to support and help where we can with the development of the joint centre today but we know that this is an initiative which will help support tackling cybercrime.”
Hanson disclosed that based on the UK’s experience from dealings with fraud and cybercrime, “cybercrime and fraud are major drags on growth in the economy and confidence in people in the economy.
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“Myself and my colleagues here today from the High Commissioner through to colleagues from the National Crime Agency through to my direct colleagues working on fraud are very committed to look at areas where we can work in partnership with the Nigerian government to tackle these transnational issues that impact on our economy, impact upon our citizens and impact upon your citizens as well,” Hanson said.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), 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.
Fagbemi noted that while there is the need for a national legal framework for combating cybercrime, it is important to note that laws alone cannot win battles, stressing the need to equip, unite and empower the people who interpret, enforce, and apply the laws to act swiftly, cohesively and effectively.
He stated that an effective criminal justice response requires seamless cooperation between relevant actors – the investigators and prosecutors, noting that, cyber criminals may exploit lack of coordination.
