Nine Chinese nationals have been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
Justice D. E. Osiagor delivered the judgment, which also included a fine of N1,000,000 (one million naira) for each convict.
The convicted individuals are: LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng.
Their arrest on December 19, 2024, in Lagos was part of a major sting operation dubbed “Eagle Flush Operation,” conducted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were identified as members of a larger syndicate of 792 suspects allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 subsequently arraigned them in February 2025 on a one-count separate charge of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The charge read: “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 to destabilisedestroyoying 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.”
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Initially, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were first read to them. However, during Thursday’s court session, they changed their plea to “guilty.”
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defence counsel concurred with the prosecution’s submission.
Consequently, Justice Osiagor handed down the one-year prison sentences, which commenced from their date of arrest on December 19, 2024.
Each convict was also ordered to pay a fine of N1,000,000.In addition to the prison term and fine, Justice Osiagor ordered the forfeiture of all seized mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers recovered from the convicts during their arrest to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Judge further directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure the repatriation of the convicted individuals to their country of origin within seven days upon the completion of their prison sentences.
