Tinubu Given 48-Hour Ultimatum To Revoke Cybersecurity Levy On Nigerians

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the controversial cybersecurity levy imposed on Nigerians by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The levy, which violates the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations, must be revoked within 48 hours, or SERAP will take legal action.

The CBN directive, which implements a 0.5% levy on electronic transactions, is deemed “patently arbitrary and unlawful” by SERAP. The organization urged President Tinubu to act in line with his constitutional oath and repeal the repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024, ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians.

The group vowed that failure to comply with the ultimatum will lead to legal action, as its lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, is already preparing the necessary court papers. It emphasized that withdrawing the unlawful directive and repealing the repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 is essential to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law.

SERAP in a statement on Tuesday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.also urged him “to stop Nuhu Ribadu and the office of the National Security Adviser from implementing section 44 and other repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 as it flagrantly violates the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”

SERAP urged him “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to immediately prepare and present a bill to amend section 44 and other repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 to the National Assembly so that those provisions can be brought in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

In the statement, the organisation said: “The Tinubu administration must within 48 hours withdraw the patently arbitrary and unlawful CBN directive purportedly imposing cybersecurity levy on Nigerians.

SERAP said, “Section 44(8) criminalising the non-payment of the cybersecurity levy by Nigerians is grossly unlawful and constitutional.”

The statement, read in part: “Our lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, is already preparing the necessary court papers should the administration fail or neglect to act as recommended.

“The administration must urgently take concrete and effective measures to ensure the repeal of section 44 and other repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024.”

“If the unlawful CBN directive is not withdrawn and appropriate steps are not taken to amend the repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act within 48 hours, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the Tinubu administration to comply with our request in the public interest.” 

“Withdrawing the unlawful CBN directive and repealing the repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 will be entirely consistent with president Tinubu’s constitutional oath of office requires public officials to uphold the provisions of the constitution, and the rule of law and abstain from all improper acts.”

“The repressive provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 are clearly inconsistent and incompatible with the public trust and the overall objectives of the Constitution. A false oath lacks truth and justice. The oath statements require the oath takers to commit to uphold and defend the Constitution.”

“Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

“The CBN yesterday has directed banks and other financial institutions to implement a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers on the basis of the section 44 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 purportedly imposing a “a levy of 0.005 equivalent to a half percent of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the second schedule of the Act.”

“The money is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), which shall be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).”