FACT CHECK: Viral post on passage of ‘Cybercrimes Act 2025’ is fake

Recently, a viral post across social media platforms claimed that the national assembly had passed into law the “Cybercrimes Act 2025”, and was shared particularly on X (also known as Twitter), WhatsApp, and Facebook.

The post also claimed that the provision of the purported legislation is “now fully binding and enforceable across Nigeria”.

“The new Cybercrimes Act 2025 has officially been passed into law by the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This means every provision in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act is now fully binding and enforceable across Nigeria,” part of the post reads.

“If you’re an online user, content creator, or admin of any digital platform (WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, etc.), you must know what this law says — because ignorance will not be an excuse.”

The viral post claimed that one of the provisions of the purported legislation is that anyone who accesses another person’s mobile gadgets without permission is “punishable by up to 5 years in prison”.

A screenshot of the viral post
Multiple X users published the post in almost the same format, alongside a photograph of Akpabio, the senate president.

Daddy Freeze, a popular Nigerian media personality, posted via Facebook a screenshot of a blogspot that published the viral post with the caption: “Great Work Senator Akpabio; Wow Be Careful what you post on Social Media. What Are Your Thoughts About This Law”.

Famous Reporters writes with reference to The Cable.
According to the publication, the screenshot of the post with Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s picture
An X user — @emmaikumeh — published the viral post accompanied by the disclaimer, “as seen on WhatsApp”. The post, published on August 23, has garnered over 200 reposts, 30 quotes, and 400 likes so far.

Some of the posts are archived here and here.

VERIFICATION

Checks by CableCheck showed that Nigeria does not have any legislation titled: “Cybercrimes Act 2025”. The country’s legislation on cybercrimes is known as the “Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024”.

President Bola Tinubu enacted the legislation on February 28, 2024. The 2024 legislation was passed to amend certain sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

CableCheck observed that the post started trending on social media in early August – a period that coincides with the annual recess of members of the national assembly.

On July 23, the senate embarked on its annual recess with resumption expected on September 23.

The house of representatives also embarked on its annual recess on July 27. The purported law could not have been passed when both chambers of the national assembly were on recess.

The provisions contained in the viral post do not align with the provisions stipulated in the Cybercrimes Act 2024.

VERDICT

The viral post claiming that the senate has passed a purported Cybercrimes Act 2025 is false.