THE INTERNATIONAL CYBERSPACE LAW DIMENSIONS OF THE NIGERIAN CYBERCRIME ACT 2015

Abstract

Cyber law, more than any other branch of law, is more directly implicated in the international law scheme on account of the inherent transnationality of cyber activity. Crime committed by individuals in a single country often affects the entire global space. However, while activities in cyberspace are border-blind, the actors and the architecture they exploit are effectively mapped onto specific geographic locations, either as nation-states or regional blocs. This peculiar mix necessitates an equally peculiar interplay between international law and national laws if some level of regulation of cyber activity is to be achieved. Like similar national legislations the world over, the Nigerian Cybercrime Act 2015 has a potential role to play in asserting some control over global cyberspace. This paper investigates the provisions of the Act that are relevant to global cyberspace governance and the fight against cybercrime.

Keywords: Cybercrime, Cyberspace, International law, Critical information infrastructure, State responsibility, International legal cooperation.        

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UNILAG Law Review, (2023) Volume 6 Edition 1.