A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and ordered the deportation of 14 Chinese nationals found guilty of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, crimes deemed to be aiding terrorism and threatening Nigeria’s national security.
The convicts were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 19, 2024, in Lagos. According to a statement released by the anti-graft agency on Friday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Chinese nationals were part of a larger cybercrime syndicate. In total, 792 suspects were arrested in the operation, most of them accused of cryptocurrency investment scams and online romance fraud targeting unsuspecting Nigerians.
The EFCC arraigned the 14 Chinese before Justice Daniel Osiagor on multiple charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. One of the charges reads:
“That you, Su Zong Gen, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused to be accessed a computer system to destabilise and destroy the economy and social structure of Nigeria…”
Initially, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, during Friday’s proceedings, all 14 changed their pleas to guilty. Prosecuting counsels T.J. Banjo and M.S. Owede subsequently urged the court to convict them accordingly. The defence team did not oppose the motion.
Justice Osiagor sentenced each of the convicts to one year imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine. He further directed that upon completion of their sentence or payment of the fine, they should be deported to China within seven days under the supervision of the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convicts at the time of arrest to the Federal Government.
The convicted individuals are: Su Zong Gen, Li Zhong Chang, Chen Gui Ping, Li Xiang Long, San Feng Zhang, Jia Yang, Jia Zhi Hao, Liu Chuang, Yu Hai Ging, Zhao Xiao Liang, Dai Li, Tao Kun, Mao Bu Yi, and Zhao Zi Cheng.
The EFCC stated that the conviction marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against transnational cybercrime networks, warning that the country will not serve as a haven for digital criminals, regardless of nationality.
