Cybercrime: Understanding The Dangers of Illegal Hacking, Blackmail, and Extortion In Nigeria
In the Nigeria context, the definitions of blackmail, illegal hacking, and extortion are similar to their general definitions but are specifically outlined within Nigerian laws. Here are the definitions of these terms as per Nigerian law:
- Blackmail: In Nigeria, blackmail is a criminal offense under the Nigerian Criminal Code. It involves making unwarranted demands with menaces and the intent to gain something of value or to cause harm or loss to another person. Section 301 of the Criminal Code Act (Chapter 77) defines blackmail as follows:
"Any person who, with intent to extort or gain anything from any person, accuses or threatens to accuse any person of committing any felony or misdemeanour, or of offering or making any solicitation or threat to any person as an inducement to commit or permit the commission of any felony or misdemeanour, shall be guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years."
- Illegal Hacking: In Nigeria, illegal hacking refers to unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or data with the intent to steal, alter, or cause damage without the permission of the owner. Hacking is covered under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015. Section 7 of the Act defines hacking as follows:
"A person who intentionally, without lawful justification or excuse, deals with any device, including a computer program or a data, commits an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding five years or to a fine of not exceeding N5,000,000.00 or to both fine and imprisonment."
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- Extortion: In Nigeria, extortion involves obtaining something, including money, property, or services, from a person through coercion, threats, or intimidation. Extortion is a criminal offense under the Nigerian Criminal Code. Section 398 of the Criminal Code Act defines extortion as follows:
"Any person who, with intent to steal anything, or with intent to compel any person to do anything against his will, by threats or intimidation of any kind, induces any person to deliver up anything, or to agree to deliver up anything, or to agree to pay any money, or to agree to do anything, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years."
Blackmail, unlawful hacking, and extortion are all defined similarly in the Nigerian context but are more extensively detailed under Nigerian statutes. According to Nigerian law, these phrases have the following definitions:
2. Unauthorised access to computer systems, networks, or data with the intention of stealing, altering, or causing harm without the owner's consent is referred to as "illegal hacking" in Nigeria. The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015 addresses hacking. According to Section 7 of the Act, "a person who intentionally deals with any device, including a computer programme or a data, without lawful justification or excuse, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years or to a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 or to both fine and imprisonment."
Extortion: In Nigeria, extortion refers to the practise of getting something from a person through compulsion, threats, or intimidation, such as cash, property, or services. According to the Nigerian Criminal Code, extortion is a crime. According to Section 398 of the Criminal Code Act, "Any person who, with the intent to steal anything, or with the intent to compel any person to do anything against his will, by threats or intimidation of any kind, induces any person to deliver up anything, or to agree to deliver up anything, or to agree to pay any money, or to agree to do anything, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years."
KREENO PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS (KPI) working in collaboration with Law Enforcement Agency such as Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Oyo State under Coalition Against Financial Fraud Initiative In Africa (CAFFIA) which is a Public-Private Partnership was able to track, trace, investigated, and arrest a couple (names withheld) who illegally hacked, blackmailed and extorted the sum of Seven Million Naira (=N=7,000,000:00) from a clergy in the South Western region of Nigeria and immediately got the perpetrators who from start intended to take the Bishop as their means of livelihood to continue to extort otherwise they would report blackmail them over some dangerous nude pictures the lady was sending constantly for the pleasure of the victim. These and many more being reported on the KREENO Website and Mobile App.
Written By Agent Karl Ahmed, Special Private Invesigator at KREENO Private Investigators & Debt Recovery Agency in Nigeria
Email: report@probitasreport.com
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