- Each of the Chinese Nationals bags one year for their involvement in cybercrime.
- The defendants changed their pleas to guilty during a court session
- Additionally, each individual received a fine of N1,000,000.
Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year of imprisonment each for their involvement in cybercrime and internet fraud.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the convicts were apprehended in a significant operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 19, 2024, as part of a larger group of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects.
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The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 brought charges against the nine individuals in February 2025, with each facing separate counts of cybercrime and internet fraud.
Initially pleading not guilty, the defendants later changed their pleas to guilty during a court session on June 5, 2025.
The charge stated, “That you, LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang and Du Ji Feng, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”
During the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, requested that the accused individuals be convicted and sentenced for their involvement in cybercrime activities.
Justice Osiagor proceeded to sentence each defendant to one year in prison, beginning from their arrest date on December 10, 2025. Additionally, each individual received a fine of N1,000,000.
Following the completion of their sentences, the court mandated that the convicts be repatriated to their respective countries of origin within seven days, under the supervision of the Comptroller General of Immigration.
Furthermore, various devices confiscated by the EFCC during the “Eagle Flush Operation” were relinquished to the Federal Government.
These items included mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers that were reportedly used in the commission of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
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