The House of Representatives has started moves to ensure that the Nigeria Cybercrime Bill which has been presented before the House three times previously is passed this time.

The bill seeks an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws 2004 in order to provide for offences and penalties relating to computer misuse and cyber crimes.

Dr Jimson Olufuye, Chair, Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA) in a presentation backed up by a written memorandum, expressed support for the passage of the Bill with amendments at the public hearing on February 11, 2013 organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

While commending the sponsor of the bill Hon. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (BINANI) and the chair of the Committee on Justice for inviting AfICTA, he noted that this is the 4th attempt at passing a law on cybercrimes at the National Assembly and he hoped efforts will be made to ensure that the Bill is passed.

Two bills on cybercrimes were proposed for consideration. Most delegates including AfICTA saw no need for a special cybercrime Bill for Northern Nigeria and so supported the discontinuation of the Bill to apply to Northern States of Nigeria only. The second Bill was to apply to the Federation of Nigeria and was supported by a vast majority of speakers.

Others who spoke at the hearing included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, Nigerian Bar Association, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Cybersecurity Africa, etc.