FEAA Urges FG to Strictly Enforce Cybercrimes Act 2024 Against Blackmailers, Fake News Merchants Targeting Tinubu Administration

The Foundation for Economic Advancement Advocacy (FEAA) has issued a strong call to the Federal Government to rigorously enforce the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, amid persistent cases of blackmail, smear campaigns, and fake news directed at public officials and key government institutions under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a press statement signed by its National Secretary, Mr. Obo Victor, the civil society organisation warned that mischief makers and unscrupulous elements are hell-bent on tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of the Tinubu administration, which has built a strong record on transparency and anti-corruption reforms.

Obo Victor decried what he described as deliberate attempts to scuttle the administration’s credible anti-corruption indices through orchestrated campaigns of calumny and intimidation.

He listed several federal institutions that have come under sustained attacks, including the Office of the Presidency, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria Customs Service, Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) — formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which was rebranded following the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

“These hate campaigns and fake news have continued to draw ugly attention to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite its sterling performances across board and its unwavering commitment to purging Nigeria of corruption,” Victor stated.

The FEAA National Secretary stressed that a significant number of federal appointees and civil servants — described as the “shining stars” of the current government — have become victims of deliberate smear campaigns aimed at damaging their reputations and, by extension, the image of the Federal Government.

“There is no gainsaying the truism that a significant number of Federal Government appointees and civil servants have been victims of deliberate smear campaigns, and their reputations have been subjected to blackmail and intimidation, aimed at tarnishing the image of the Federal Government,” he added.

Strong Warning and Vow to Name and Shame

Victor vowed that the FEAA would not sit idly by. The organisation has promised to publish the names of sponsors and masterminds of these fake news and blackmail campaigns in national dailies, leaving “no stone unturned” in its bid to protect the reputation of the Tinubu administration.

He described the targeted officials as hardworking and dependable personalities who have distinguished themselves in service to the nation.

The group further called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the punitive measures contained in the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, as a strong deterrent to individuals who have turned the spread of falsehood and blackmail into an occupation.

The 2024 Amendment Act, signed into law by President Tinubu in February 2024, strengthens the 2015 Cybercrimes Act by updating penalties, clarifying offences related to false information, cyberstalking, and online intimidation, while also introducing mechanisms such as the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions to fund national cyber defence infrastructure and sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Tinubu Administration’s Record

Despite these distractions, the Tinubu administration has continued to record notable achievements in its anti-corruption drive, revenue mobilisation, and economic reforms. The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), for instance, recently announced ambitious revenue targets even as it modernises tax administration to boost compliance and reduce leakages.

FEAA believes that allowing these cyber threats to fester unchecked could undermine public confidence in government institutions and derail the ongoing reforms.

The organisation urged security agencies and the judiciary to rise to the occasion by ensuring swift prosecution of offenders under the strengthened legal framework.

As the war against corruption and misinformation intensifies, stakeholders expect the Federal Government to respond decisively to the FEAA’s call, sending a clear message that the era of impunity for blackmailers and fake news peddlers is over.