A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The convicts, who were part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects, were arrested on December 19, 2024, during a sting operation conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The nine Chinese nationals, identified as LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng, were arraigned on one-count separate charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025. They initially pleaded not guilty, but later changed their pleas to guilty during a court sitting on June 5, 2025.
Justice D. E. Osiagor sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment, starting from the date of arrest on December 10, 2024, with a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) each. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized from them at the time of arrest to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts will be repatriated to their country of origin within seven days after completing their prison sentence. This case highlights the EFCC's efforts to combat cybercrime and internet fraud in Nigeria.

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