The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicted individuals, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi, Zhang Juan, Li De Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming were among a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance scammers arrested during a sting operation dubbed “Eagle Flush Operation” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on December 19, 2024.
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They were arraigned in February 2025 on separate one-count charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC.
The charge read:
“That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li De Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: access a computer system with intent to destabilize and destroy the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”
Initially, the defendants pleaded “not guilty,” but during Monday’s court session, they changed their plea to “guilty.”
Prosecution counsel R.A. Abdulrasheed then urged the court to convict them based on their plea.
Presiding judge, Justice D.E. Osiagor, convicted and sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date, December 10, 2024 and imposed a fine of ₦1,000,000 on each of them.
Justice Osiagor further ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure the convicts are deported to their home country within seven days.
All mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized from the convicts at the time of arrest were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
THECONCLAVENG
