Nigeria's Ministry of Justice Tackles AI Cybercrime Threats

The Ministry of Justice in Nigeria is actively seeking new measures to address the rising threat of AI-driven cybercrimes. Emma Okonji reports that the ministry is collaborating with both foreign and local partners to enhance the prosecution of cybercrime offenders, particularly those utilizing artificial intelligence.

The initiative emphasizes the need for stronger digital evidence management and inter-agency collaboration to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal activities. Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, spoke during a specialized training session for members of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) held in Lagos.

He noted that cybercrime has evolved beyond conventional hacking and online fraud to include complex offenses such as deepfake technology, voice cloning, ransomware attacks, and identity theft. The training aims to equip participants with the skills to identify red flags and conduct thorough investigations, ultimately strengthening the criminal justice process in cybercrime cases.