The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of nine Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud. The judgments were delivered by Justices Chukwuemeka Aneke and Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
This was contained in a publication made at the agency’s verified Facebook handle on Friday.
The convicted individuals are: Deng Wen Quang, Lin Jin, Shi Yang Xiong, Lu Yong Yao, Yang Chen Cheng, Feng Li Cai, Li Niue, Li Kuang Kuang, and Dan Jia (also known as Bu Fan).
They were arraigned on separate charges relating to cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
One of the charges stated:
“That you, Yang Chen Cheng, on or about the 11th of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully accessed computer systems with the intent to seriously disrupt and destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structures. You recruited and used Nigerian youths for identity theft, encouraging them to impersonate foreign nationals to obtain financial gain. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).”
All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read out in court.
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution team urged the court to convict the defendants and order the forfeiture of all items recovered from them.
The courts found the accused guilty and sentenced each of them to one year in prison, with an additional fine of ₦1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).
In addition, the judges directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure the deportation of the convicts to their home country within seven days of completing their sentences.
All items seized during the investigation were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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