In Ikoyi, Lagos, a Federal High Court found 14 Chinese nationals guilty and jailed them on Friday for their roles in Internet fraud and cyberterrorism.
The members of the cybercrime gang were dismantled during a sting operation in Lagos on December 19, 2024, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In an announcement posted on its 𝕏 account, the anti-corruption agency said that these 14 people were among 792 suspects arrested for alleged romance and cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting Nigerians.
Judge Daniel Osiagor heard their case on separate counts of Internet fraud and cyberterrorism.
According to one of the counts, Su Zong Gen committed deliberate computer system access in December 2024 in Lagos, which is under the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with the goal of undermining and destabilizing Nigeria’s social structure and economy.
At first, the defendants entered a not guilty plea, but during Friday’s sessions, they altered their plea to guilty.
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The defense team did not challenge the application, but prosecution attorneys T.J. Banjo and M.S. Owede urged the court to convict the defendants because of this.
Justice Osiagor reportedly sentenced each of the convicted individuals to a year in prison with the possibility of a N1 million fine.
The court further ordered that the Nigerian Immigration Service deport the convicted individuals to China within seven days of the payment of the fine or the fulfillment of their sentence.
It was mandated that the Federal Government forfeit all of the goods that were taken from the prisoners at the time of their arrest.
Chen Gui Ping, Li Xiang Long, San Feng Zhang, Jia Yang, Jia Zhi Hao, Liu Chuang, Yu Hai Ging, Zhao Xiao Liang, Dai Li, Tao Kun, Mao Bu Yi, and Zhao Zi Cheng are among the Chinese nationals who were found guilty.
