The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. This follows a sting operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that led to their arrest.
In a statement released on Tuesday via X, the EFCC identified the convicts 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. They were among 792 suspected individuals arrested on 19 December 2024 in connection with cryptocurrency investment and romance scams.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 had arraigned the defendants in February 2025 on separate one-count charges 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 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 initially pleaded “not guilty” but changed their pleas to “guilty” during court proceedings on June 5, 2025.
Following this, prosecution counsel Nnaemeka Omewa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. The defence counsel aligned with the submission.
Presiding judge, Justice D. E. Osiagor, then sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, with the term to run from the date of their arrest—December 10, 2025. Each convict was also fined N1,000,000.
In addition, the court ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their home country within seven days of completing their sentences.
All mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” were also forfeited to the Federal Government.
