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EFCC, experts warn Nigerians to guard data against cybercrimes
Economic and financial crimes operatives and cybersecurity experts have reiterated the importance of cybersecurity awareness among Nigerians to stem rising cyber attacks and the attendant distresses.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other experts spoke on Saturday at a Cybersecurity Awareness Workshop.
It was organised by H’QUBE Consultating Ltd. for students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop, titled “Impact of Cybersecurity Awareness at Combating Cybercrimes”, was held at NITHUB, a tech innovation of the UNILAG.
The stakeholders urged the participants to ensure that they do not fall victim to cybercriminals through careless handling of their sensitive information, including National Identification Number(NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) data.
Addressing the participants, Lagos Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mr Michael Wetkas, urged the participants not to compromise security of their data and never to cross the red flags.
Wetkas, who was represented by Mr Suleiman Jijiwa, the Deputy Head, Cybercrimes, EFCC, said that crimes had changed from the usual bloody attacks to digital, and many people had fallen prey because of greed and ignorance.
“All they (cyber fraudsters) need now is laptop, network and knowledge. Crimes have no border, unlike before. You have to be there physically to perpetrate it.
“EFCC is watching. If you see something, say something, then we will do something to arrest the criminals,” he said.
Wetkas urged the students to imbibe the culture of reporting cybercrimes right on time, saying that such could be done anonymously.
According to him, every cybercrime can be traced if reported to the appropriate authorities.
Advising the participants to always protect their data and not be hasty in releasing it without cross checking, Wetkas added that students must mind whatever they push on social media to avoid undue exposure to risks.
Urging the students to stay clear of cybercrimes, the commander regretted that some staff of financial institutions were always compromised.
According to him, the commission shares information with other agencies in the cyber space within and outside the country to clamp down on internet frausters.
Also speaking, Mr Ezike Onyema, representing State Zonal Head of ICPC, Mr Abdul-Kabir Elelu, who emphasised data protection, urged the participants to be safety conscious on cyber space.
“We need to be safe. Protect your BVN. Your BVN must be protected. Don’t let it out, ” he said.
Mr Ben Ekwere, a financial expert, who also urged participants to alway double check the security features of whatever website being visited, said ,”the cost of cyber breaches is higher than what it will take to secure it.
In his remarks, Dr Victor Odumuyiwa, the Director, NITHUB, commended the organisers for empowering the students with knowledge and training to be solution providers.
Odumuyiwa, who urged the students to be security aware and be careful of information they pushed out about themselves, added that they must also be experts in cyber security space.
“If you are not greedy, you will not fall easily into the hand of the cyber criminals. Their tactics are to scare and lure. Be careful in providing information,” Odumuyiwa of the Department of Computer Science, said.
Also speaking, Mr Abdul-Azeez Ghazali, the Chief Executive Officer, H’QUBE Consulting Limited, said that a lot more ought to be done in ensuring security in the digital space, describing humans as the weakest link.
According to him, the workshop is necessary because the level of investment in cybersecurity awareness is low in Nigeria.
“Data privacy must be ensured. You must be the guard. Nobody can protect you better than yourself. We must try to secure ourselves and be careful in digital space.
“We must be secure, but truly, nobody is immuned or free. We must keep improving our cyberspace security. Your pin must not be your date of birth.
“Most victims of cyber attacks undergo emotional distress, and many are really crying out there. Do not be reckless in digital space,” Ghazali, a chartered accountant and cybersecurity expert, said.
Decrying bank insider collusion in aiding cyber attacks, Ghazali urged the participants to beware of impersonators and identity theft on cyber space.
He urged the people to always lock their SIM cards, to safeguard themselves.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of new laptop computers to two students.
News
Stop using repressive laws to intimidate journalists – SERAP, NGE tell FG
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, have called on Nigerian authorities at all levels of government to stop using repressive and anti-media laws to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics and media houses.
The groups made the demand after an interactive session on ‘the state of press freedom in Nigeria’ held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
In a joint statement, SERAP and NGE said that, “the government of President Bola Tinubu, the country’s 36 governors and FCT minister must now genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information to all Nigerians, obey court judgments, and respect the rule of law”.
They expressed concerns about the escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by authorities at all levels of government.
The groups note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.
The statement read in part: “We would continue to speak truth to power and to hold authorities to account for their constitutional and international obligations including on freedom of expression and media freedom.
“Nigeria as a country has a long and unpleasant history of press gagging and clampdown on media freedom, which is evidence of extensive state censorship of media and in some cases, the utter control of state-owned media houses.
“This position has not changed considerably despite almost 25 years of unbroken democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.”
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FG adds 625MW to national grid – Minister
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Tax: Court orders FCT-IRS agency to seal off defaulting coys
A Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to seal off a company, Ifedi A.K. Nigeria Ltd, over allegations bordering on non-filing of annual returns.
The Magistrate, Janada Balami, gave the order after lawyer to FCT-IRS, Michael Towolawi, moved the application to the effect.
Towolawi told the court that the company had failed to file its annual returns from 2019 to 2023 in breach of Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act, LFN, 2004, and amended in 2011.
He said all efforts to make the company comply with the law proved abortive.
The lawyer, therefore, applied that the company be compel to appear before the court to explain why it acted in breach of the law.
Balami, who held that the application by the agency against the company had merit, accordingly granted same to seal the No 6, Rudolph Close, Off Katsina-Ala Street, Maitama, Abuja.
She, consequently, ordered the company, the sole defendant in the matter, to appear before the court on May 16.
The Director, Legal Services of the FCT-IRS, Festus Tsavar, told journalists after the proceeding that the service would move against companies that do not file their annual returns as provided by law.
“You know that we have a new minister in FCT that is doing a lot of projects and that hinges on money.
“And of course, you are aware that FCT has come out of TSA.
“So it is the internally generated revenue that will make the government of FCT to be able to do those projects completely within required time,” he said.
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