A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced 14 Chinese nationals to one year in prison each over charges related to cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the ruling on Friday, June 27, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that all 14 individuals had opted for a plea bargain with the prosecution.
Prosecuting counsel Spiff Owede and Temitope Banjo urged the judge to accept the terms of the plea deal. Following this, the accused changed their previous pleas of “not guilty” to “guilty.”
Those convicted include 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.
Their arrest occurred on December 19, 2024, during an operation by the EFCC codenamed “Eagle Flush.”
The large-scale raid targeted a suspected cybercrime network operating in Lagos and led to the detention of 792 individuals allegedly involved in scams related to cryptocurrency and online dating.
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Each of the 14 individuals was prosecuted on separate counts of internet-related crime and cyberterrorism.
The EFCC revealed that Su Zong Gen, in particular, was accused of illegally accessing computer networks in December 2024, with the intent to harm Nigeria’s economy and destabilise its societal structure.
These offences contravene Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act of 2015, as updated in 2024.
Upon entering guilty pleas, the EFCC requested immediate conviction. The defence counsel, Segun Bello, did not challenge the request.
Justice Osiagor ruled that each defendant should serve one year in prison or pay a fine of ₦1 million. He also ordered that all seized items from the convicts be handed over to the Nigerian government.
In addition, the judge instructed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that the convicts are deported to China within seven days after completing their prison terms.