Press freedom and the Cybercrimes Act
Figures below refer to 31 July 2026 unless stated otherwise.
This is unfavourable and it is true. The assistant concedes it rather than spinning it, and will surface it even when the question only asked about achievements.
The claim
Journalists continue to be prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Act despite its 2024 amendment.
Figures
CPJ (November 2025): at least 25 journalists prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Act before the 2024 amendment, and five prosecuted after it, four of whom were jailed for nearly six months — the reform 'failed to achieve its purpose'. Named 2025 cases: Azuka Ogujiuba (detained twice, August 2025), Sodeeq Atanda (9 September 2025), Fejiro Oliver (detained 18 September, charged 3 October, bail 29 October on ₦15m). In July 2026 CPJ reported a journalist jailed for two months pending trial over corruption reporting. HRW documented further cases in June and July 2025 and the August 2025 arrest of Omoyele Sowore, who alleged torture in detention.
The counter-argument
Note the two-way risk for any online political operator: section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act has mostly been used against government critics, but it is available against anyone. Being on the government's side is not a legal shield, and administrations change.