General News
Police in Court, Declare 24 foreign Cybercrime Suspects Missing

The police, on Thursday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the whereabouts of 24 foreigner hackers being prosecuted on allegations bordering on cybercrime was unknown.

Victor Okoye, police lawyer, told Justice Ekerete Akpan at the resumed hearing of their trial, after at least 85 of the defendants were recently convicted, fined and ordered to be deported.
Okoye said the 24 foreigners were yet to be apprehended by the security agency.
“My lord, the defendants are at large and we are yet to apprehend them,” he had said.
It will be recalled that Justice Akpan had, about two months ago, convicted 21 of the 109 foreign nationals being charged and fined them N1 million each, after they opted for a plea bargain agreement.
The judge, who alternatively ordered them to serve a one-year jail term, also ordered their deportation from Nigeria after meeting the judgment terms.
He further directed that all the gadgets used in the commission of the crimes should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Akpan also, on Oct. 14, convicted a set of another 59 of the foreign hackers on the same plea bargain deal with the Nigerian Police Force, leaving 24 defendants who chose to face the trial.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 for trial of the 24 defendants.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the defendants were not in court and the matter was adjourned until Thursday.
However, upon resumed hearing on Thursday, Okoye told the court that the defendants were still at large and that the police were yet to apprehend them.
The lawyer informed the court that he had an amended charge and that he was ready to proceed.
Justice Akpan told him that his amended charge cannot be taken when the defendants were not in court.
Okoye then sought an adjournment to do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Dec. 10 for hearing.
The Inspector General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024, sued the 109 foreigners and were arraigned on six counts.
The defendants, include nationals of China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, had pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in correctional centres.
Justice Akpan had, on Nov. 29, 2024, admitted them to a N1 billion bail with five sureties each.
The judge, who granted them bail, directed that the five sureties must have a landed property worth N200, 000 million each.
Justice Akpan directed that the sureties must deposit the original and verified documents of their landed property with the deputy registrar of the court.
The judge also directed the sureties to deposit their international passports.
While the male defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, the court held that the female defendants should be kept at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State pending the perfection of their bail terms.
The defendants, who had met their bail terms, were, in 2024, arrested by the police.
They were apprehended in their residence at Plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime by allegedly promoting “a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”
In the six-count charge, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria, etc.
In one of the counts, they were alleged to have aided, abetted, conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime.”
They were alleged to have commited the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).
They were also alleged to have accessed a computer network and input with the intention that such inauthentic data will be considered or acted upon as If they were authentic or genuine.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).
Again, they were alleged to have removed “from Nigeria proceeds generated from operating a fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms.
“These platforms are 9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and you thereby commit money laundering, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendants were also accused of entering “the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days duration and failed to leave the Nigerian territory at the expiration of the said permit.
The offence is contrary to the provisions of Section 4 (2) and punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 2015.”
General News
CAC to Sanction Companies with Incomplete Business Letters From August 1

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced that it will begin enforcing statutory requirements on the contents of company business letters from August 1, 2026, warning that defaulting companies will face sanctions.

The commission disclosed this in a public notice signed by its management and posted on its X handle on Wednesday.
Recall that under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, company business letters are required to clearly display key details, including the company’s registered name, registration number, directors’ present forenames or initials and surnames, any former forenames and surnames, and the nationality of every non-Nigerian director.
The requirement applies to all company business letters, including invoices, quotations, official correspondence and other business documents.
According to the CAC, the enforcement will cover the full application of Sections 304(1), 304(2) and 304(1)(c) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.
The commission said, “Commencing the 1st day of August 2026, the Commission shall enforce the full application of the requirements of sections 304(1) & (2) and (1)(c) of the Act with respect to company business letters with attendant sanctions for non-compliance.”
It reminded companies registered under the Act “to state in legible characters on its business letters, the present forename or initials and surname; any former forename and surname; and nationality of every non-Nigerian director as well as the company’s name and registration number.”
The commission urged affected companies to comply with the provisions before the enforcement date to avoid sanctions.
“The Commission remains committed to transparency, accountability and customer satisfaction as it strives to build a more resilient and responsive corporate regulatory environment,” the statement added.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of Data Security Risks for Users of AI Travel Planner

Using Artificial intelligence (AI) for travel planning saves time and simplifies trip prep but poses significant data security risks, as almost 86 percent of users report privacy concerns, according to Kaspersky’s latest findings.

For instance, sharing sensitive details like your passport number or credit card can expose you to data breaches and identity theft.
Hackers can also use AI to imitate airlines or hotels to steal your money.
However, data security risks awareness is also high, which security experts call a good sign.
Kaspersky global research, revealed what drives active AI users to charge chatbots and AI-powered tools with the important responsibility of travel planning and how they estimate the security of such services.
The survey shows that the primary motivation for turning to AI in travel planning is to save time and simplify preparation, with 73 percent of users globally pointing out these benefits.
Other important advantages of AI in traveling, named by 65 percent of respondents, are the search for information about the main attractions in the chosen location and personalised recommendations tailored to individual preferences. Additionally, 63 percent leverage AI to find the most favourable offers, while 61 percent trust it to uncover information that would otherwise be hard to find.
In fact, nowadays with the help of AI, an individual travel itinerary, matching all the requests and budget of a particular traveller, can be created in just a few clicks.
However, information provided by chatbots always needs to be double checked.
There have already been several instances where tourists encountered issues because they trusted AI too much and did not conduct their own research for the trip.
What is more, not only the information, but even links provided by AI need to be checked, as there may be malicious and phishing links among them.
Before clicking on a link from an AI chatbot it is recommended to check it with a cybersecurity solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, empowered with phishing detection.
AI and security
Apart from setting a route and searching for information, AI in travel planning in many cases is also responsible for booking hotels and even tickets, which inevitably requires sharing personal data.
The Kaspersky global survey revealed that not all travellers are ready to entrust AI with their personal information.
Almost half (48%) of global respondents see security risks in AI usage and try not to share any sensitive data with it.
Together with those, 37% who do not have many security concerns about AI still try to be careful while working with it.
86% of those who use AI for travel planning think about data security while working with these tools. Only 14% of travellers are confident that sharing any data with AI is totally secure.
According to the survey, travellers in Spain, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa express the greater concerns about AI-related risks, while those in China, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia in contrast display higher confidence in the security of AI systems.
“The survey highlights a noteworthy level of caution among travellers who use AI, which is a promising sign. A rational attitude is crucial for any type of online interactions, especially when we talk about personal data sharing. After all, your ‘private’ conversations with AI can still be exposed to cyber threats, or a favourable offer discovered by a chatbot may turn out to be nothing more than a scam.
This doesn’t mean you should abandon these digital tools altogether. Instead, stay mindful, avoid oversharing personal information, and think carefully while choosing which task you can assign to the AI. By doing so, AI-powered services can evolve into reliable assistants that help you tackle a wide range of challenges safely and effectively,” commented, Vladislav Tushkanov, Group Manager at Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center.
General News
Court Declares ARCON’s N60Bn Fine against Facebook Nigeria Illegal

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has declared the N60 billion fine imposed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) on Facebook Nigeria Operations Limited Illegal.

Justice Bogoro stated that ARCON regulator exceeded its legal authority and breached the company’s constitutional right to a fair hearing.
He, who made the declaration while delivering judgment in Suit marked, FHC/L/CS/2205/2024, declared ARCON’s Notice of Violation/Demand for Compliance dated 21 October 2024, unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void, and barred the agency from taking further steps to enforce it.
The judge also held that ARCON lacked the statutory power to impose fines for alleged criminal violations under the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act, 2022, without first obtaining a conviction from a court or other competent tribunal.
The dispute arose from ARCON’s claim that Facebook Nigeria displayed advertisements on Facebook and Instagram to Nigerian audiences without prior approval from the Advertising Standards Panel, contrary to provisions of the ARCON Act and the Nigerian Code of Advertising.
Following these alleged breaches, the regulator ordered the company to cease displaying the advertisements and imposed an N60 billion penalty.
Apparently dissatisfied with the development, Facebook Nigeria, through Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), its lawyer, challenged the action, arguing that ARCON lacked the legal authority to determine criminal liability or impose punitive sanctions via an administrative notice without allowing the company to defend itself.
The company also argued that it does not own or operate Facebook or Instagram, claiming both platforms are owned and controlled by Meta Platforms Inc., a separate foreign entity.
But ARCON, represented by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), contended that Facebook Nigeria acts as Meta’s operation in Nigeria and should therefore be held responsible for regulatory violations related to advertisements on the platforms.
The regulator further argued that the notice was simply a compliance directive, allowing the company the option to comply, pay the specified violation fee, or face prosecution.
However, Justice Bogoro dismissed the regulator’s arguments.
The judge stated that Facebook Nigeria is a distinct legal entity from Meta Platforms Inc. and that ARCON failed to present credible evidence showing that the Nigerian company owns, operates, or controls Facebook or Instagram.
The court maintained that the argument that Facebook Nigeria represents Meta’s interests in Nigeria was insufficient to establish liability for the alleged advertising infractions.
Regarding fair hearing, the court ruled that ARCON violated Section 36 of the Constitution by accusing the company of misconduct and imposing a N60 billion fine without first hearing its defence.
Justice Bogoro also held that Section 57(4) of the ARCON Act explicitly requires the regulator to provide a fair hearing before imposing any penalty.
The court further found that the alleged violations were criminal because Section 34 of the ARCON Act designates the unlawful exposure of advertisements as an offence.
The judge also held that, since the Act stated that punishment can only be imposed “upon conviction,” ARCON had no authority to impose the N60 billion fine through an administrative process.
He insisted that, regardless of what ARCON called it, the demand was a fine that could only be imposed by a court following proper judicial procedures.
As a result, the court invalidated the Notice of Violation/Demand for Compliance.
It declared ARCON lacked authority to impose fines for breaches of Sections 34(3), 54, or other criminal provisions of the ARCON Act.
Justice Bogoro also issued a perpetual injunction preventing ARCON, its officers, agents, and associates from enforcing the October 21, 2024 notice against Facebook Nigeria.
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