Court jails nine Chinese for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud in Lagos
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by Dele Oyewale, its Head of Media and Publicity.
The convicted Chinese nationals are 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 part of a larger syndicate of 792 suspects arrested in a sweeping anti-cybercrime raid last December.
The raid, tagged “Eagle Flush Operation,” was carried out by operatives of the EFCC on December 19, 2024, in various locations across Lagos.
targeted a suspected network of cryptocurrency investment and romance scam operatives accused of defrauding both Nigerian and foreign victims through sophisticated online schemes
Following their arrest, the nine Chinese nationals were arraigned in February 2025 before the Federal High Court in Lagos on separate one-count charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
According to the EFCC, the charge against them reads: “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, all nine defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
However, during a hearing on Thursday, June 5, 2025, they dramatically reversed their plea and admitted guilt.
Following the change of plea, Nnaemeka Omewa, prosecution counsel requested that the court convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
The defence team did not object and also urged the court to accept the guilty pleas.
D.E. Osiagor (Justice) subsequently convicted the defendants and sentenced each of them to one year imprisonment, starting from their arrest date, December 10, 2024.
In addition to the custodial sentence, each convict is to pay a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira).
The court also directed that upon completion of their prison terms, the Comptroller General of Immigration must ensure that the convicts are deported back to China within seven days.
Osiagor also ordered the forfeiture of mobile phones, laptops, routers, and other devices recovered from the suspects at the time of their arrest to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC described the operation and subsequent conviction as a significant step in its fight against cross-border cybercrime, which continues to pose a major threat to national security and economic stability.
