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33 J.L. Pol'y & Globalization 1 (2015)

handle is hein.journals/jawpglob33 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization www~iiste.oig ISSN 2224-3240 (Paper) ISSN 2224-3259 (Online) Vol.33, 2015 IISTE Cyberterrorism: A Comparative Legal Perspective Mu'azu Abdullahi Saulawa* Junaidu Bello Marshal 2 1. Faculty of Law, Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, P.M.B. 2218. Katsina State, Nigeria 2. Faculty of Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P. M. B 2486. Sokoto State, Nigeria * Email- muazu.abdullahis 4)gmail.com 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 1. Introduction The paper focuses on cyberterrorism and a comparative legal perspective. The number of threats posed by cyberterrorism has completely and overwhelmingly attracts global attention. The security of environment and the ICT industry are not safe, the variety use of sophisticated cyber terrorist electronically equipment's hacking into computers that control dams, air traffic control system, endangering the lives of millions and the nation's security. Yet despite all predictions of cyber-global acceptance no single example of real cyber terrorism has been recorded. 1 The cyberterrorism threat is real, with the constant used of infrastructures and most of such in western countries is networked through computers; the potential cyberterrorism is, to be sure very alarming. Nothing can be further from the truth, hackers, although not motivated by the same objective that inspires terrorist that have demonstrated individuals can gain access to sensitive information and to execute an operation which is crucial. Terrorists, at least in theory could thus follow the hackers' lead and broke into government or private computers cripple, damage or at least disable financial sector, military and economies. 2 The growing dependence of societies today on ICT has open a window form of vulnerability, giving terrorists the opportunity to approach targets that would otherwise be utterly assailable such as national defence system and air traffic control system. The more technologically developed country is, the more vulnerable it becomes to cyber-attacks against its infrastructures. 3 2 Definition of Cyberterrorism In defining cyberterrorism, a number of contributions have been used, according to Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI): ... terrorism includes the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Cyberterrorism is further defined as the: the premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which result in violence against noncombatant targets by 1 Gabriel Woimann, Cyberterrorism How Real is the Threat? , United States Institute of Peace, Special Report 119, December 2004, at p. 2. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Code of Federal Regulations, 28 C.F.R.Section 0.85 (July 2001): 51.

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