The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 2 and 3, 2025, for the commencement of trial against 109 foreign nationals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate and running unregistered online gaming platforms within Nigeria.
The trial, initially set for Monday, could not proceed due to the unavailability of the presiding judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, who was engaged in an official assignment. The case was the only matter listed on the court’s cause list for the day.
The accused persons—nationals of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brazil, and Myanmar—were apprehended in 2024 by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at their residence in Katampe District, Abuja. Authorities allege the foreigners were operating a fraudulent digital gaming network, thereby posing a threat to national security.
The suspects are facing a six-count charge filed by the office of the Inspector General of Police, bordering on cybercrime, money laundering, and immigration violations. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Justice Akpan had previously granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N1 billion, with five sureties required to provide evidence of ownership of property valued at N200 million each. These sureties are also to submit original title documents and their international passports to the court’s deputy registrar.
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Pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions, the male defendants are being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while the female defendants remain in custody at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State.
The charges against the accused include conspiracy to commit cybercrime, unlawful access to networks, dissemination of inauthentic data, operation of unregistered gambling platforms such as 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top, and laundering proceeds from these illegal activities. They are also alleged to have overstayed their legal business permits in Nigeria.
The offences are said to contravene sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Immigration Act, 2015.
The trial is expected to shed light on what officials describe as one of the most elaborate cybercrime networks uncovered in recent years within Nigeria.