Lawyers warn against harassment of content creators

The Intellectual Property Lawyers Association Nigeria has urged law enforcement agencies to stop profiling content creators as criminals, fraudsters, or scammers.

The Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, Folarinwa Aluko, in a statement shared with Saturday it described content creators as legitimate drivers of the country’s digital economy, who deserve recognition as innovators and entrepreneurs, not suspicion.

“Content creators are building brands, telling our stories, and exporting Nigerian culture to the world. Treating creativity as a front for criminality is both wrong and dangerous. It erodes trust and undermines one of the most promising sectors of our economy,” Aluko said.

He cautioned against the weaponisation of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, particularly in cases involving parody, criticism, or social commentary, stressing that freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution.

Aluko said criminalising lawful speech damaged democracy and innovation.

According to him, many creators thrive despite chronic infrastructure gaps, limited financing, restrictive payment systems, and minimal government support.

He said, “Rather than profiling or persecuting them, we should be developing robust legal and financial frameworks to sustain their growth. The industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs, attract foreign investment, and expand Nigeria’s soft power globally.”