The Application of Forensic Linguistics in the Investigation of Cybercrime Cases in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges

This study examines the application of forensic linguistics to the investigation of cybercrime cases in Nigeria, focusing on the prospects and operational challenges facing law enforcement agencies in adopting linguistic analysis as an investigative tool. Cybercrime has grown into one of the most significant criminal challenges in Nigeria, and the linguistic analysis of digital communications represents an underutilised investigative resource. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive methodology using document review and semi-structured interviews with twelve cybercrime investigators and three practising forensic linguists. Data were gathered from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and selected State CID offices in Lagos and Abuja. The analysis examines current language analysis practices, the institutional capacity for forensic linguistics, and the legal admissibility of linguistic evidence in Nigerian courts. Findings reveal that while text message analysis and authorship attribution are occasionally employed in cybercrime investigations, formal forensic linguistic methodology is not institutionalised within Nigerian law enforcement practice. Institutional barriers include the absence of certified forensic linguists in investigative units, limited awareness of linguistic evidence admissibility standards, and inadequate digital forensics infrastructure. The study recommends the formalisation of forensic linguistics as a professional function within Nigeria's cybercrime investigation framework, supported by university-level professional training programmes. Keywords: forensic linguistics, cybercrime, Nigeria, language evidence, authorship attribution.