A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each after they were found guilty of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud charges.
Justice D.E. Osiagor delivered the judgment on Monday, July 7, 2025, following the defendants' guilty plea to a one-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicted individuals were among 792 suspected members of a cyber fraud syndicate apprehended during a massive sting operation codenamed "Eagle Flush" conducted by EFCC operatives in Lagos on December 19, 2024.
Details of the Conviction
The charge against the defendants stated: "That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming, 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."
The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty when arraigned in February 2025 by the EFCC's Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 but changed their plea to guilty during Monday's proceedings.
Following their change of plea, prosecution counsel R.A. Abdulrasheed urged the court to convict them accordingly.
Court's Ruling
Justice Osiagor sentenced each defendant to one year imprisonment with effect from their date of arrest — December 10, 2024. Additionally, each convict was ordered to pay a fine of N1 million.
The court further directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to repatriate the convicts to China within seven days of the judgment.
All mobile phones, laptops, routers, and other digital devices recovered from the convicts during their arrest were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This case follows a similar conviction of eight other Chinese nationals for related cyber-terrorism offenses, highlighting Nigeria's intensified efforts to combat international cyber fraud operations targeting the country.
The massive December 2024 raid that led to these convictions represents one of the largest coordinated anti-cyber fraud operations in Nigeria's history, with nearly 800 suspects apprehended in a single operation.
Stay updated with the latest news on cyber security and legal developments by following BenriNews on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
