The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of nine Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud before two Federal High Court judges sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts 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 cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. One of the charges read:
“That you, Yang Chen Cheng, on or about the December 11, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully caused computer systems to be accessed, organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).”
All nine defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel M.K. Bashir, Babatunde Sonoiki, and B.M. Isha urged the court to convict the defendants and order the forfeiture of all items recovered from them. The judges found them guilty as charged and convicted them accordingly. Each was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, with an option of a fine of ₦1,000,000.
Furthermore, the court ordered the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that, upon completion of their sentences, the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.
All items recovered from them were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
