15 foreign nationals sentenced in Lagos for cybercrime, to be deported after serving jail terms
The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 15 foreign nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, bringing the total number of convicted foreigners to 33.
Justices Yellim Bogoro and Alexander Owoeye handed down the verdicts on Friday after the defendants 11 Filipinos, two Chinese nationals, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian pleaded guilty to the charges in separate trials.
The convicted individuals include: Winnie De Jesus, Kayceelynn Remorin, Irish Chna, Darwisa Esmael, Kimberly Nisperos, Savien Cire Renovilla, Zeng Zerong, Guo Bin, Jessa Sanchi, Jhena Sarmiento, Rain Torida, Rex Jose Dilag (aka Madison), Tan Soon Kar, Fernando Fu Fang, and Beverlyin Gumayo (aka Veb Sumayo).
Following the convictions, the court ordered the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to repatriate the convicts to their respective countries within seven days of completing their sentences. Additionally, all electronic devices recovered from the defendants are to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
This latest judgment follows the sentencing of another 18 foreign nationals last week by Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke and Yellim Bogoro in similar cybercrime cases.
The convicts were part of the 193 foreigners arrested during a massive raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024. The operation, codenamed Eagle Flush, targeted a seven-storey complex known as the Big Leaf Building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
EFCC said the suspects were involved in a range of cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency scams, romance fraud, money laundering, and other computer-related offences. In total, 792 persons were apprehended during the operation.
The defendants initially pleaded not guilty but changed their pleas as part of a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.
