Cyberterrorism: A Comparative Legal Perspective

Abstract

The paper focuses on cyberterrorism and a comparative legal perspective with a view to examine the cyberterrorism as a concept as well as its definition. The revolution of development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed society to be a point where advances in programming computer and intelligence software operates in a higher processing capacity. The uses of desktop or laptops computers are leading the society to a time where or when cyber used to perpetrate various act of offences. The paper analyses legal perspective that introduced the Cybercrime Convention in Europe in relation to cyber terrorism and the opening to other Member States, while Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) issues a Directive to Member States to adopt enabling laws so as to combat the practices of cybercrime in relation to cyber terrorism. The paper argues that Nigerian Cybercrime Act 2013 is an established law that addresses the endemic practice of cybercrime and provides for cyber terrorism. Further, the paper examines the Nigerian financial regulators like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other Units mandated to curb the money laundering and combating the financing terrorism and other financial institutions related crimes. The paper relies on primary and secondary sources of data and the analysis is descriptive in nature. The paper will proffer recommendations and conclusions for effective measures for proper implementation and enforcement.

Keywords: Cyberterrorism, definition of cyberterrorism, Relevance of cyberterrorism in cyberspace, Comparative Legal Perspective