Nigerian court jails 21 foreigners for cybercrime

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted 21 foreign nationals for cybercrime-related offences and ordered their deportation within six working days.

Justice Ekerete Akpan, who presided over the case, delivered the judgment on Monday after the defendants entered a plea bargain agreement with the Nigeria Police Force, which is prosecuting the matter.

The convicts, part of a group of 109 foreign nationals facing trial for cybercrime, money laundering, and immigration violations, were each fined N1 million. The judge ruled that they would be released only after paying the stipulated amount.

“The convicts, having entered into the plea bargain voluntarily, are hereby convicted as charged,” Akpan said.

He further directed that all electronic devices used in committing the crimes be forfeited to the federal government.

Among those convicted were Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), and Shi Hao Jie (28), with Tue Xue Fie (21) as the only female.

The defence counsel, Linda Ikpeazu and Julius Mba, represented the convicts in court. When asked if the fines had been paid, Ikpeazu responded, “My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.”

The judge adjourned the case to October 22 and 23 for the continuation of the trial of the remaining 88 defendants.

The 109 foreign nationals, mostly from China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were initially arraigned in 2024 under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 on a six-count charge.

They were arrested at Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they allegedly ran fraudulent online platforms such as 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top—unregistered gambling sites designed to defraud users.

One of the charges alleged that they conspired to commit cybercrime by “inputting false data into computer systems, intending it to be treated as genuine,” in violation of Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

They also faced charges under the Money Laundering Act, 2022, and the Immigration Act, 2015, for overstaying their 30-day business permits. The court had earlier granted bail to each at N1 billion, with five sureties owning property worth N200 million.

While male suspects were held in Kuje Correctional Centre, female suspects were detained in Keffi Correctional Centre.