Olanipekun Seeks Protection Of Nigerian Citizens Under Cybercrime Laws

Legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has called for the strengthening of the institutional frameworks to improve enforcement of cybercrime laws.

Olanipekun who is a former chairman, Body of Benchers, decried the chaotic nature of the country’s cyberspace, stressed the importance of citizens’ responsibilities in protecting the rights of the ordinary Nigerians under the Cybercrime Laws.

The senior lawyer who expressed displeasure at what he termed the “humanity of man to man in Nigeria’s cyberspace,” warned that digital thuggery and cyber-bullying posed significant threats to national security and public trust.

Speaking at the 56th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) lamented the use of cyberspace for brutality, assassination of character and persecution of innocent Nigerians.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring industrial harmony in the nation’s ivory towers, for changing the trajectory and the narrative of Nigeria’s educational landscape, through bold reforms.

Chief Olanipekun who is the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, UNILAG, made a symbolic and far-reaching annual scholarship of N500,000 to the best male students across 19 faculties of the institution.

The gesture, according to him, was to encourage male students to pursue academic excellence and to also challenge female dominance in the academic prize awards in the University.

The event was graced by eminent Nigerians, including the minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, Emir of Bornu, Shehu Abubakar ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, who is the chancellor.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi and Wale Tinubu were bestowed with honorary doctorates at the ceremony.

He said: “Nigeria is not a no man’s land. We are being ruled by Law. Nigeria is about the only country that I know that her social media space is a bedlam. You can say anything and get away with it.

“Citizens are not being protected from harassment, from banditry, from character assassination on social media. Are we not aware of the law; or we are not learning. Don’t we know what the law says? And for those of us who have Masters degrees in cybercrime, or in cyber whatever, please let us look at the law. An occasion like this provide an opportunity for Nigerians to offer an idea of the type of protection they have under the law. There is brutality, there is a humanity of man to man in cyberspace. There is persecution, not in terms of the government persecuting the citizens, but the citizens are persecuted.”

Speaking further on how the president has returned peace to the universities, Olanipekun said, “In the past eighteen months or thereabout, no friction or major misunderstanding has occurred between Council and any of the Unions. As for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), I particularly wish to place on record your maturity and understanding.

“On this podium, during the 55th Convocation Ceremonies, 2025, a year ago, I pleaded with all of us that, as parents and guardians, we should ensure that academic calendars in our universities are not truncated due to industrial actions and similar excuses. In the same vein, I pleaded with the federal government to, as a matter of deliberate policy and utmost urgency, look into and embark on an upward review of salaries and allowances of university staff, starting with ASUU.”