NINE CHINESE NATIONALS JAILED FOR CYBERCRIMES IN LAGOS (PHOTOS)
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By: Ajibola Lateef
Following the arrest of nine Chinese nationals by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a significant sting operation, Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, found them guilty of cyberterrorism and online fraud and sentenced them to one year in jail each.
LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng were among 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects who were arrested on December 19, 2024, the EFCC said in a statement released via X on Tuesday.
In February 2025, the nine people were charged with one count each of cyberterrorism and online fraud by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
The charge stated, “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.”
Initially pleading “not guilty,” the defendants reversed their pleas to “guilty” during a court session on June 5, 2025.
Prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, a request supported by the defence counsel.
Justice Osiagor subsequently sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date of December 10, 2025, and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 on each.
The court further ordered that the convicts be repatriated to their country of origin within seven days of completing their sentences, as directed to the Comptroller General of Immigration.
Additionally, mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” were forfeited to the Federal Government.
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