14 Chinese Nationals have been jailed for internet fraud in Lagos.
Eko Hot News reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city, convicted and sentenced 14 Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
The presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, delivered the judgment after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that the defendants had entered into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.
Spiff Owede and Temitope Banjo -EFCC counsels- urged the court to adopt the terms of the plea bargain and proceed to take the defendants’ guilty pleas.
The 14 Chinese Nationals are Su Zong Gen, Li Zhong Chang, 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.
The convicted individuals were part of a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation codenamed Eagle Flush Operation, carried out by the EFCC.
The 14 Chinese Nationals were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Su Zong Gen, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully caused to be accessed a computer system for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).”
The convicted individuals initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges; however, during yesterday’s proceedings, they changed their pleas to “guilty.”
Following this, the prosecution applied for their conviction. The defence counsel, Segun Bello, did not oppose the application.
Consequently, the presiding judge convicted and sentenced each defendant to one-year imprisonment with an option of a N1,000,000 (one million Naira) fine.
The court also ordered the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that the convicts are deported to their country of origin within seven days of completing their sentences.
Justice Osiagor, in addition, ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
