Countering AI-driven cybercrime: Digital Encode launches DEPAS AI, Nigeria’s first autonomous penetration testing platform - ITREALMS

Nigeria’s premier cybersecurity professional services firm, Digital Encode, has announced the launch of DEPAS AI (Digital Encode Penetration Autonomous System), the nation's first fully autonomous enterprise penetration testing platform, reports ITREALMS.

The platform's release comes at a critical time. According to IBM’s 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report, AI-enabled breaches now account for 25% of all malicious incidents, marking a 56% year-over-year increase. The average cost of these AI-driven breaches has escalated to US$6.04 million, significantly exceeding the global average breach cost of US$4.99 million.

WES 2025: EFCC vows heavy investment in digital forensics, capacity building to combat cybercrime - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced a significant investment drive in digital forensics, capacity building, and public education as part of its strategy to aggressively tackle emerging financial crime challenges, including cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, and illicit trade financing, reports ITREALMS.

EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, confirmed the initiative while addressing the World Stage Economic Summit 2025 (WES 2025) in Lagos on Friday. The summit was themed 'Tackling The Issue of Low Productivity in Nigeria,' and Mr. Olukoyede's address focused on "Anti-Corruption Efforts of the EFCC to Boost the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria."

UKAid deepens campaigns against cybercrime, cultism across Nigeria - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

... Thrive Online, Cancel Cults programmes transforming lives in Lagos, Edo, Bayelsa

The THRIVE ONLINE campaign, a vital component of the broader BRIGHTER FUTURES programme supported by the UK government, continues its proactive efforts to combat cybercrime and cultism in Nigeria. 

With a targeted focus on Lagos, Edo, and Bayelsa States, the campaign aims to safeguard individuals, families, and communities from the detrimental impacts of these societal scourges.

UN cybercrime negotiations: No outcome as best outcome by Tatiana Tropina - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Internet Governance Alert:
The first day of September this year marked the end of the sixth round of negotiations of the UN Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) on Cybercrime.

The two weeks of debates and informal consultations concluded with applause. Despite all the efforts of the AHC chair and many delegations to bridge the different positions, however, it is hard to remain optimistic about these negotiations and their possible outcome.

IGP: Nigerians should optimise cybercrime reporting via NPF portal - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

*Expands Force Intelligence Capacity with new smart office complex


The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has charged members of the public, who are strategic partners in security and policing of the country, to report all forms of cybercrimes including identity theft, child sexual exploitation, cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, credit card fraud, internet fraud and other forms through the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Reporting Portal, reports ITREALMS.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force headquarters, Abuja, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a press statement available to ITREALMS Wednesday night, said the public an also report through the "electronic mail (email), interpolnigeria@npf.gov.ng, via WhatsApp on 07043797900, and via call/SMS on 08094557845."

Nigeria joins Convention on Cybercrime - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


The Federal Government of Nigeria has joined the Convention of Cybercrime, according to the Head, Cybercrime Division at the Council of Europe, Mr. Alexander Seger, reports ITREALMS.

The Convention on Cybercrime also known as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, ITREALMS gathered is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime (cybercrime) by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations.

Discovered! New ransomware attacking organisational networks - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigerian Communications Commission has alerted members of the public that a cybercrime group has perfected a new year scheme to deliver ransomware to targeted organizational networks, reports ITREALMS. 

Disclosing this to ITREALMS, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the new ransomware uncovered by security experts has been categorised, by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team's (ngCERT) advisory released over the weekend, as high-risk and critical.

Enhancing digital society: Zambia establishes Special Joint Cybercrime Crack Squad - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Government of the Republic of Zambia in efforts at enhancing digital society within its domain has established a Special Joint Cybercrime Crack Squad (SJCCS), reports ITREALMS.

The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications in a press statement made available to ITREALMS, said that the exponential growth in the information and communication technology sector has created unprecedented opportunities for accelerated development in interactions by individuals and corporate entities facilitating the establishment of knowledge based digital societies.

“Through ICTs, the ability for people to communicate, connect, share, learn, access information and express their opinions on matters that affect their lives and their communities has been enhanced enormously.“

Part of the statement read:

“People the world over including the people of Zambia, have benefited greatly by opportunities brought about by the emergence of the digital age.

“However, the wider and increased availability to the digital platforms such as the internet and mobile technology has led to some individuals using ICTs to propagate illegal vices.

“In order to mitigate against abusive and illegal use of digital platforms and vulnerabilities amongst and against Zambian citizens, the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Transport and Communications has spearheaded the formation of a Special Joint Cybercrime Crack Squad (SJCCS).

“The SJCCS is an effort of collaboration amongst security agencies and other stakeholder groups. The SJCCS has been established with the understanding that the ability to reduce risks brought about by the digital revolution requires the establishment of effective and efficient real-time and proactive strategies. Such strategies can be developed and implemented through enhanced and improved collaboration between key cross-sectoral stakeholders.

“The adoption of this multi-disciplinary collaborative approach reinforces Governments commitment to introducing measures and policies that will promote a safe, secure, resilient, reliable and inclusive ICT sector for increased and continued Investment and Development in Zambia.



“The Special Joint Cybercrime Crack Squad (SJCCS) will play a lead role in bringing some level of sanity amongst digital platform users in the country. It will support the identification of investigative overlaps and eliminate duplicity of resources whilst effecting new investigative approaches to bring about rapid resolution of cybercrime cases and fast-track prosecution of the offenders. This team will help ensure that public digital platforms including social media are not used as vehicles for illegal and harmful activities,” Officials of Minister submitted.




*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Cyber-crimes: Nigeria tops African countries, loses $350m annually

ITRealms:

Nigeria is on the lead of top three African countries, just as the nation lost $350m to cyber-crimes annually, reports ITRealms.

President of Cyber Security Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Mr. Remi Afon, disclosed this in a presentation at the 2017 Vienna Symposium on Global Cybersecurity Awareness Messaging, Austria entitled: "Cybersecurity in Africa: Changing the Perspectives" in association with Samaila Atsen Bako.

According to them, cybercrime costs the world economy the sum of US $500 billion, which is over the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South Africa, estimated at $350.6 billion and slightly less than that of Nigeria, about $521.8 billion which is the continent's largest economy

As such Nigeria, they said, Nigeria losses $350 million to cybercrime yearly followed by Uganda $50 million and Kenya $250 million.

ITRealms reports that they disclosed that some 11 States out of the 54 countries on the continent have basic substantive and procedural law provisions in place, while a further 12 States seemed to have substantive and procedural law provisions partially in place.

“The majority of African States (30) did not have specific legal provisions on cybercrime and electronic evidence in force. Draft laws or amendments to existing legislation reportedly had been prepared in at least 15 States,” they said.

They noted that for the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), a not for profit group of professionals in the field of Information Security in Nigeria, has focus on awareness and training whereas advocating for strong legislative framework, government commitment, multi stakeholder approach, capacity building and cross border collaboration.

In addition, they said, CSEAN holds healthy debates to expand audience knowledge, awareness and understanding of the issues around cyber-crime with objective of sharing knowledge to grow the Information Security Industry in Nigeria via workshops and seminars.

Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) -not for profit group of professionals in the field of Information Security in Nigeria

Further, they said that CSEAN adopted Stop Think Connect, stressing that considering Africa’s youthful population, “our main focus is on the youth.”

Nonye Dom/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Mauritius, only African state party to Budapest Convention on Cybercrime

Exclusive@ITRealms:

The East African country of Mauritius is the only nation from the continent that has acceded and is a state party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, reports ITRealms.

For any country to be a state party to an international convention or treaty, such a country or members state must have completed the laid down accession processes.

Accession, experts told ITRealms, is an act by which a State signifies agreement to be legally bound by the terms of a particular treaty. It has the same legal effect as ratification, but is not preceded by an act of signature. The formal procedure for accession varies according to the national legislative requirements of the State.

The instrument of accession, ITRealms gathered, is a formal sealed letter referring to the decision and signed by the State’s responsible authority, is prepared and deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General in New York or its equivalent of such a convention.

The Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, ITRealms gathered, is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations.

It was drawn up by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France since 2001 with the active participation of the Council of Europe's observer states Canada, Japan, South Africa and the United States.

The Convention, ITRealms reports, entered enforcement phase on 1 July 2004 and as of March 2016, had 49 states which have ratified the convention, while a further six states had signed the convention but not ratified it.

Head, Cybercrime Division, Council of Europe, Mr. Alexander Seger confirmed this to ITRealms in an exclusive chat, declaring that “Mauritius has acceded and is a Party.”

He also said Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, stands out among equal for this remarkable position on cybercrime.

Mr. Seger, who doubles as the Executive Secretary, Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) told ITRealms that invitation has been extended to three countries in Africa, including Senegal, Ghana and Morroco to accede to the convention on cybercrime.

“Senegal, Ghana and Morocco have been invited to accede but have not yet completed the accession process and are thus not Parties yet,” he declared.

Mr. Seger acknowledged that South Africa participated in the negotiation of the treaty and has signed the Convention and its Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism but has not yet ratified these. South Africa, hence is not yet a Party.

He disclosed that given the commitment of these States to implement the Budapest Convention they are also priority countries for capacity building.

Remmy Nweke/ED,Ops

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Nigeria loses N127bn annually to cybercrime – Shittu

ITRealms:

 

The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu has said that Nigeria loses an estimated N127 billion, which amounts to 0.08 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) yearly, to cybercrime, reports ITRealms.

He made this disclosure in an address to the 26^th national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) which opened Tuesday on the theme: Information Technology for National Safety and Security at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

Shittu also said that for them in the ministry, national safety and security further encompasses securing the nation’s cyber space, noting that growing dependence on digital infrastructure introduces and poses grave threats to national security.

According to him, more Nigerians now have access to the Internet, hence citizens nowadays use the enormous opportunities this digital infrastructure brings to work, transact business, campaign, communicate, learn, interact and relax.

“Today, banking, commercial and other critical services are being provided online,” he declare, stressing that evidence however, abounds of growing electronic fraud and threats to digital databases both private and government.

He pointed out that in view of the critical nature of the economy and government activities, it is obvious that protection from different types of cyber and terrorist attacks is required.

“Software piracy, identity theft, electronic fraud, online spam, intellectual property theft and malware attacks can all lead to devastating and far reaching consequences,” he noted.

Additionally, Shittu said that the activities of hackers and cyber bandits are known to aid radicalisation and violent extremism, especially among the youth.

In order to address emerging cyber threats, he said, the Federal Government has set up computer emergency response teams through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

And to further improve the nation’s cyberspace, Shittu said FG recently inaugurated the Cybercrime Advisory Council, underlining that the council is expected to facilitate the implementation of the Cybercrime Act, 2015, as well as the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.

Earlier in his welcome address, NCS president, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, said that the protection of life and property is the major function and responsibility of any government, stressing that globally, no nation is excluded from the challenges of insecurity.

He also said that a more proactive Information Technology (IT)-led approach to combating this menace is needed in a country like Nigeria.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix 1: Shittu speaking at NCS Confab 2016 and with members of the NCS and past-president and exco.

CSEAN cautions Senate over attempt to muzzle social media, says it’ll spur identity theft

ITRealms:

The Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) has sounded a note of caution over the Nigerian Senate attempt to muzzle the social media, saying it would give rise to cybercrime and urged Senate to kill the bill as matter of urgency, reports ITRealms.

CSEAN national president, Mr. Remi Afon in a press statement made available to ITRealms said that the group condemned in totality the proposed bill entitled “An Act to prohibit frivolous petitions and other matters connected therewith” otherwise known as “Social Media Bill” which is meant to punish those found guilty with imprisonment or fine. 

He described the bill as “retrogressive, baseless, unrealistic, and has the propensity of increasing cyber crime in Nigeria.”

Pointing out that social media is an ardent tool to expose and fight against oppression, corruption, injustice, and lends voice to the voiceless. 

Afon also said that the rise of social media has shown that the Internet is truly a democratic medium where people could make their opinions known, insisting that no new law is needed in Nigeria to deal with social media misuse, if any, as the existing law coupled with the cyber crime law deal effectively with false allegations, libel and related offences. 

“All that is needed is a better understanding of the existing law as it is applicable to offences committed on the internet. The proposed bill is tantamount to a backdoor attempt to clamp down on free speech as enriched in Section 39(1) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations universal declaration on human rights,” Afon said.

He further said that Internet has no borders, thus, the proposed bill if passed into law would create more damage than good in that people would begin to engage in identity theft, create bogus social media accounts and use proxies to remain anonymous in order to air their views which in effect will increase cyber crime. 

“At this stage when all hands should be on deck to track down cyber criminals who often use anonymous accounts and online anonymous proxies, it will be bad to push bloggers, Twitter, Facebook and other social media users into the dark world of internet,” he decried, suggesting that rather, the law enforcement agencies should be empowered to take down offensive posts and track down cyber criminals by way of capacity building.

CSEAN, Afon said, called on lawmakers to kill the bill as a matter of urgency.

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Ajijola tasks NBA on new thinking cap over cybercrime

ITRealms:

 

The Chairman of Consultancy Support Services Limited, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola has tasked the Nigerian Bar Association to wear a new thinking cap, because things have changed legally in order to adjudicate appropriately on cybercrime related law, reports ITRealms.

Ajijola made this charge while dwelling on ‘Beyond Cybercrime Legislation’ while speaking at the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Tuesday with a dedication to his late father, Barrister Adeleke Dirisu Ajijola, who passed-on in January 2015.

He said that things have changed and wondering if the members of NBA have also changed their legal thinking?

This, he stressed, follows that the likes of Uber, which is the world’s largest taxi company without owning any vehicle; and Facebook which is the most popular media owner in the world does not create any content outside the platform.

In addition, Ajijola noted that Alibaba, for instance, which is the most valuable retailer, has no inventory, whereas Airbnb known as the largest accommodation owner, owns no real estate, and Iroko Tv, the major broadcaster of African movies, produces no media, and beckon on lawyers at the conference, to defend the platform as listed above.

For him, if something is ‘free’ then know that you the visitor is not the customer, but you are the product being sold.

Pointing out that like most of the world, Nigeria is building an electronic future upon capabilities, processes and infrastructure, expressing concern that the country is yet to understand how to protect, regulate or legislate on the electronic future in her domain.

He gave Nigeria cyber security threat overview to include the attack on the official website of the Federal Republic of Nigeria www.nigeria.gov.ng by an Irish ‘gay’ hacker in July 2013 in protest of the anti-gay bill that was passed by the Nigerian Senate.

He underscored the fact that on February 5, 2015, the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan launched the National cybersecurity policy and strategy respectively. Even as on May 16, 2015, President Jonathan, then, signed the cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc) Act 2015 into law.

He expressed optimism that on his inauguration speech, President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015, had declared “I also wish to assure the wider international community o our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of … cybercrime ….”

Ajijiola equally advised NBA to take note of some domestic cybersecurity players including Defence Space Agency, EFCC, Digital Forengics Laboratory, Galaxy Backbone ISO27001 Certification, NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness & Response Team of Nigeria – CERRT.ng; Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Cybercrime Prosecution Unit; Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) – Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (NGCERT).

Also worthy of note include the Computer Forensics Institute of Nigeria (CFIN), as professional body; Consultancy Support Services (CS2) Ltd, Digital Forensics; Cyber Institute Ltd/GTE, NGO, Capacity Building & Research; Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), yet another professional group and Digital Jewels Limited which centres on research and capacity building.

In academia, he said, there are only two higher institutions in Nigeria playing in this industry, namely the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna which has department of Cybersecurity, just as Nassarawa State University, Keffi, also has Centre for Cyberspace Studies.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

CPN disowns jailed banker over N9.2 m fraud

… Omenogor not an IT professional

The Computer Professional (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) has disowned Mr. Romeo Omenogor over N9.2 million fraud at the United Bank of Africa (UBA), saying he is not a registered Information Technology (IT) professional.

The Registrar cum Chief Executive Officer of CPN, Mr. Shehu Sekiru, made this clarification in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, saying that abinitio, the 10-year fraudster, Mr. Omenogor is not a registered IT professional in the country, therefore should not be referred to as an IT specialist in the first instance. 

“Therefore, he was not supposed to be employed by the bank abinitio,” he argued.

Reacting to a publication that implicated Mr. Omenogor, he said that CPN has used different medium to enlighten employers of labour and members of the public on the risk involved in employing unregistered IT practitioners to handle IT jobs in their organizations.

This, according to him, is because their investment in Information could only be protected by employing skillful, competent and knowledgeable people who are known and certified as professionals by their professional bodies.

To this effect, he said that CPN has specifically written the management of UBA in an effort to encourage the organization to ensure appropriate registration of their IT staff.

He recalled that Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria was established through Act No 49 of 1993, stressing that the Act was passed into law on June 10 and gazetted on August 9 of the same year.

“It is a corporate entity that is charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing profession and practice in Nigeria in line with Section 1 (2) of the Act,” he said, asserting that CPN is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D