Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime, Orders Repatriation

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year in prison after they pleaded guilty to charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

Justice D.E. Osiagor handed down the sentence on Thursday, June 5, 2025, following their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The suspects were arrested in December 2024 during a coordinated sting operation targeting a vast cybercrime network.

According to the EFCC, the group is part of a broader syndicate of over 790 suspects linked to cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud schemes targeting individuals globally.

The convicts — 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 first charged in February 2025. The charge accused them of unlawfully gaining access to computer systems with the aim of undermining Nigeria’s economic and social systems, in violation of Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC prosecutor Nnaemeka Omewa urged the court to proceed with sentencing. The defence raised no objection.

Justice Osiagor sentenced each individual to one year imprisonment, with the term to be counted from the date of their arrest—December 10, 2024. In addition to the prison term, each convict was fined ₦1 million.

The court also ordered that the convicts be deported to China within seven days after completing their sentences. All items seized during their arrest, including laptops, smartphones, and internet routers, were forfeited to the Nigerian government.