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Stakeholders task govt. on need of formulating central database for improving on security 

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NIGERIA as the most populous black nation, privacy is believed to be a fundamental human right as enshrined by the constitution. But, it is disheartening that comprehensive data protection legislation has yet to be enacted as one of the fundamental human rights, even as several government and private organizations routinely collect and process personal data.

According to the broadly phrased Section 37 of the constitution which applies to personal data protection, states ‘ the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected’.

However, the existing regulatory frameworks fall short of providing Nigerians with an adequate level of personal data protection as these frameworks fail to clearly define the level of protection afforded to the personal data collected , nor do they clearly state the obligations relating to how personal data should be handled.

Interestingly, checks revealed that Ghana has a data protection law, however, regrettably, so many organizations are collecting data and storing data, hence weakened the whole essence of the law.

Very recently, African internet stakeholders under the aegis of African Academic Network on Internet Policy, who converged at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State to attend the maiden edition of Data Privacy and Protection conference, have jointly tasked the government on the urgent need to have a single authority that would be responsible for collecting, sharing and management of personal data so as to ensure its security, avoid multiplicity of data as well as waste of resources.

The stakeholders who averred that privacy is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the constitution, also called for the enactment of a data protection act that contains data protection principles consistent with those contained in the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The conference which was supported by Google had in attendance data protection and internet experts, students, professional bodies, government, civil society, private business representatives and other stakeholders who encouraged the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to engage in public interest litigation to protect privacy, raise consumer awareness about protecting their personal information and advocate for the use of privacy enhancing technologies.

Speaking at the two day conference (Monday December 4, 2017/ Tuesday December 5, 2017), the Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, ISGPP, Dr. Tunji Olaopa explained, ’we are informed from the recognition that the contributions of Africa to the growth of internet policy has been very weak and we narrow down to the unfortunate dimension of even the African researchers not really contributing to the global conversation and if you know the extent to which internet is impacting presently and to impact in the future. Our fear was that African must avoid going into another recolonization.

‘So, to that end, a roundtable was organized in May and the challenges were highlighted. It then became very imperative to assemble the leading African experts both in Africa and diaspora to organize a network which gave birth to African Academic Network. In trying to address the gaps (Policy and Research) militating against African’s contribution, we then highlight a whole lot of symmetric areas. We have started with data privacy and security’, he continued.

Dr. Godfred Frempong of CSIR Science and Technology and Research Institute, in his submission, emphasized on the importance of data, just as he described it as a prominent weapon.

He further observed that the way data is collected, managed in Africa must be looked at critically. Worried about poor harmonization of data by various governments’ authorities, Frempong added, ‘So many organizations are collecting the same personal data. For example if you are privileged to travel, the immigration authority will collect data on you, National Insurance Authority is collecting data on us, National Identification Authority is collecting data, Electoral Commission is collecting data, Driving and Vehicle Registration Authority is collecting data, the banks are collecting data, National Identity Management Commission, Integrated Payroll and Personnel for Public Servant, Sim card registration by NCC and anywhere you go, they ask you about your personal data’, he lamented.

Concerned about data security, Mr. John Walubengo from Multimedia Centre, University of Kenya expressed displeasure over the activities of private business players who collect information such as the telecom operators, mobile banking in which they computerize or save data in digital format without prioritizing its protection. ‘How do you protect this information to ensure that it doesn’t fall into wrong hands?’, he queried.

Similarly, he stressed on the need to have a framework forcing the data collectors or controllers to adapt to minimum standard of protection. ‘We need to look at data security as protecting citizens’ right and privacy, so that all citizens in Africa are able to enjoy that security of the data collector which the businesses may not prioritize’ said Walubengo.

Also contributing, the Senior Policy Manager, World Wide Web Foundation, Mrs. Nnenna Nwakanma, who highlighted various opportunities available on the internet, described data as the biggest economy with its ability to tailor marketing to individuals. ‘Who ever have data has wealth. If you talk about the biggest companies online today they are no longer software or hardware companies, but data companies’, said Nwakanma.

She however cautioned that while data has becomes a goldmine for the digital economy, it could also hurt if not well handled, both by the data providers and handlers.

Another contentious issue at the conference was privacy protection which Mrs. Tope Ogundipe, Director of Programs, Paradigm Initiative noted that should be seen first as human rights issue rather than been posited as an economic one. She charged Nigerians to ask questions on how the barrage of data they provide to agencies are kept and used. She therefore recommended that the use of data must be in accordance with the purpose for which it was collected, stressing that consent of the individual must be obtained prior to collecting his or her personal data.

Ogundipe finally added, ‘rights of the individual to seek legal remedies for misuse or unauthorized access to personal data must be guaranteed’.
With the huge success recorded at the just concluded conference, the network planned to involve more critical stakeholders to further discussion and create platforms for engagement and training of people.

The core objective, according to the stakeholders is to see a continental approach to the desired policies.

By Idowu Ayodele.

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Crime & Court

EFCC Re-Arrests Crypto Fraud Kingpin, Friday Audu, Outside Court Premises

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rearrested Friday Audu, the alleged mastermind of a massive cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam, just moments after he was granted bail by a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

In a dramatic turn of events, EFCC operatives intercepted Audu as he stepped out of the court premises on Thursday. The anti-graft officers swiftly bundled him into a waiting white van and whisked him away, while his co-defendants were led off by correctional officers.

Audu, alongside two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, as well as their company, Genting International Ltd, is facing a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime. The trio was arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor on Monday, March 17, and returned to court on March 20 for their bail hearing.

Despite being granted bail, Audu’s troubles deepened as EFCC officials moved in swiftly. The court had granted him bail in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties—one being a serving director in Nigeria, and the other a Lagos-based property owner willing to surrender title documents to the court. Until these conditions are met, Audu was to remain in correctional custody.

However, his alleged accomplice, Huang Haoyu, was not as fortunate. The court denied his bail application, ruling that his residence status in Nigeria was unclear and that he posed a flight risk. The third defendant, An Hongxu, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.

Justice Osiagor adjourned the trial to May 2, 2025.

How It All Started

The EFCC’s case against Audu and his co-defendants stems from a December 2024 sting operation that led to the arrest of 193 foreigners and several Nigerians linked to a sophisticated cyber-fraud network.

According to the prosecution, Audu allegedly spearheaded the recruitment of young Nigerians into the syndicate, which engaged in cyber fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and illicit financial dealings. The EFCC further alleged that the group conspired with one Dualiang Pan (still at large) to access computer systems designed to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structure.

The defendants were accused of using young Nigerians to impersonate foreign nationals in online scams, defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of dollars. Investigators also linked them to a staggering ₦3.4 billion fraud, with proceeds traced to the Union Bank account of Genting International Ltd.

Other fraudulent transactions flagged in the case include:

  • The illegal retention of $1.2 million in a crypto wallet by one Chukwuemeka Okeke.
  • A similar retention of $1.3 million by Alhassan Garba and Ifesinachi Jacobs.
  • Suspicious transfers of ₦106 million and ₦913 million to an account controlled by Dualiang Pan.
  • Unofficial foreign exchange dealings worth over ₦2 billion, allegedly conducted outside the Central Bank of Nigeria’s approved system.

The EFCC maintained that these activities violated multiple provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act 2015, the Money Laundering Act 2021, and the Foreign Exchange Monitoring Act 2004.

Battle for Bail

During Thursday’s proceedings, EFCC prosecutor Bilikisu Buhari-Bala opposed bail for the defendants, arguing that they were flight risks and key players in an extensive cybercrime syndicate. She pressed for an accelerated trial instead.

Defense counsels, however, pleaded for leniency. Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Emeka Okpoko, representing the first defendant, urged the court to grant his client bail on “liberal terms.” Similarly, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), who represented Audu, pushed for his client’s release under favorable conditions.

Despite the court’s decision to grant Audu bail, his freedom was short-lived as EFCC officials quickly stepped in to rearrest him, a move that hints at fresh charges or an ongoing investigation.

With the case now set for trial on May 2, all eyes remain on the EFCC and the fate of the alleged crypto fraud syndicate.

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EFCC Arrests Bauchi Accountant General for Alleged ₦70bn Fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, over an alleged ₦70 billion fraud.

Jaja was apprehended in Abuja on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an operator of Jasfad Resources Enterprise—an unlicensed bureau de change (BDC)—and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.

Their arrests form part of an ongoing EFCC investigation into allegations of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation involving the staggering sum.

The Commission is also probing the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, in connection with the matter.

According to the EFCC, preliminary findings indicate that a total of ₦59 billion was withdrawn in cash through various bank accounts managed by the Accountant General on behalf of the state government. The funds were allegedly transferred to Abubakar and Sambo, who then made cash payments to political party agents and associates of the governor.

Notably, Abubakar, the BDC operator, had previously absconded while on bail but has now been rearrested.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrests, stating that investigations are ongoing to unravel the full extent of the financial misconduct.

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NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Concealed in Prayer Beads, Locally Made Shoes

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine ingeniously concealed within prayer beads and locally made shoes, foiling an attempt to traffic the illicit substance.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.

Babafemi, who shared images of the seized contraband on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the act, especially in the holy month when religious devotion takes precedence.

“In this holy month, when people are consecrating themselves and making supplications to their God, some persons were preoccupied with concealing cocaine in prayer beads and locally made shoes to desecrate the precincts of the holy land in the holy month,” he stated.

He further noted that vigilant NDLEA operatives intercepted the illicit shipment, preventing the traffickers from executing their plan.

The anti-narcotics agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, especially methods that exploit religious items and sacred periods to evade detection.

As investigations continue, the NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug-related crimes and ensuring that traffickers face the full weight of the law.

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