International Law and Cybersecurity: Nigeria’s Legal Framework for Combating Cybercrime

This research examines Nigeria's legal framework for combating cybercrime in the context of international law, focusing on the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 and its alignment with relevant international instruments including the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. Nigeria ranks among the countries most associated with internet fraud and cybercrime globally, presenting both domestic law enforcement challenges and significant implications for Nigeria's international reputation and trade relationships. Using a doctrinal research approach, the paper analyses the scope of the Cybercrimes Act, its provisions on computer fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking, and critical infrastructure protection, and assesses their compatibility with international cybercrime law standards. It examines the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force's Cybercrime Unit and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in responding to cybercrime, including the rate of successful prosecutions. The paper also addresses the transnational dimension of cybercrime, evaluating Nigeria's mutual legal assistance arrangements and extradition agreements with key technology jurisdictions. Findings indicate that while the Cybercrimes Act represents significant legislative progress, enforcement capacity remains insufficient, international cooperation mechanisms are underutilised, and the Act's broad provisions on online speech create human rights concerns. Recommendations include accession to the Budapest Convention, investment in forensic technology infrastructure, and legislative amendments to narrow overbroad cybercrime provisions. Keywords: cybercrime, Cybercrimes Act, Budapest Convention, Nigeria, internet fraud.