HURIWA Hails Fagbemi at 30 Years as SAN, Challenges AGF to Scrap ‘Toxic’ Cybercrimes Act Section

PRESS STATEMENT
12th September, 2026

HURIWA Hails Fagbemi at 30 Years as SAN, Challenges AGF to Scrap ‘Toxic’ Cybercrimes Act Section

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his steadfastness, resilience, hard work, candour and professional excellence in his 30 years as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

HURIWA says Fagbemi deserves commendation for remaining committed to litigation and the practice of law before and after his appointment as Attorney-General of the Federation.

The rights group notes that Fagbemi is one of the few Attorneys-General who came into the office with extensive experience as a practising litigation lawyer, having handled numerous cases in courts before his appointment.

HURIWA says the minister’s passion for the legal profession and his continued engagement with important legal issues have distinguished his career.

The association is particularly encouraged by Fagbemi’s recent intervention on the need to reform the international Investor-State Dispute Settlement system.

Fagbemi had warned that the controversial award in the Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. case, which involved compound interest and billions of dollars, could have crippled Nigeria’s economy if enforced.

HURIWA supports the minister’s call for greater transparency, fairness and predictability in international arbitration, particularly where the economic interests of developing countries and their taxpayers are involved.

However, HURIWA urges Fagbemi to bring the same determination to the protection of constitutional rights, especially freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

The association therefore calls on the Attorney-General to champion the amendment of the Cybercrimes Act, particularly Section 24, which HURIWA considers obnoxious, toxic and dangerous to press freedom.

HURIWA says Section 24 has the potential to provide an avenue for powerful individuals to use law enforcement agencies to intimidate, harass and silence journalists carrying out legitimate investigative reporting.

The association is concerned about cases where wealthy and politically connected individuals allegedly deploy police operatives against journalists who investigate their activities or expose suspected wrongdoing.

HURIWA insists that investigative journalism is not a crime and must not be treated as one simply because its findings are uncomfortable to powerful individuals.

The rights group therefore calls for Section 24 to be expunged or fundamentally amended to ensure that the Cybercrimes Act is not used to suppress legitimate criticism, investigative journalism or public-interest reporting.

HURIWA says Nigeria cannot claim to be strengthening the rule of law while retaining legal provisions that can be exploited to undermine freedom of expression and the press.

The association urges Fagbemi, as the nation’s chief law officer and an experienced courtroom lawyer, to lead the process of reviewing the provision and ensuring that Nigeria’s cybercrime laws are consistent with the Constitution and democratic principles.

HURIWA once again congratulates Fagbemi on his 30 years at the Inner Bar and urges him to continue using his legal experience to strengthen justice, constitutional governance, human rights and the rule of law.

Signed:

Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)