Eighteen foreign nationals have been sentenced to one year in prison each by a Federal High Court in Lagos for cybercrime, fraud, impersonation, and attempting to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional stability.
The convicts, who had initially pleaded not guilty, changed their pleas after reaching a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Two judges, Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke and Yellim Bogoro, delivered separate rulings on the matter.
Justice Aneke handed down sentences to six individuals, Eliza Gapparova, Diana Kadyrbekova, Nasrine Chouaieb, Jiang Han Hua, Liao Zhang, and Genting International Co. Limited, on charges of cyberterrorism, identity theft, and using Nigerian youths to pose as foreigners and defraud unsuspecting victims.
“These convictions were entered pursuant to a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution, led by Zeinat Atiku, and defence counsel Osuala Nwafbara, Z.S. Makinde, and Peter Taiwo,” Justice Aneke said.
In a separate judgment, Justice Bogoro sentenced 12 Philippine nationals, including Jean Calatar Maunfo, Donne Reges, Roseann Gonzaus, Mary Grace Dela Piazza Camara, Lari Jane Tayae, Jonilyn Agulto, Jonalyn Mendoza, Anjeannet Topacio, and Arramef Topacio.
The proceedings were led by EFCC prosecutors Hanatu Kofanaisa and Temitope Banjo, with Bridget Omateno representing the defence.
The EFCC revealed that the convicted individuals were part of an international cybercrime syndicate, codenamed “HK,” which specialised in training both local and foreign youths to carry out romance and investment scams. Their targets were mostly people in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe.
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This major bust happened in December 2024 when EFCC operatives raided a seven-storey building on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. During the operation, 193 foreign nationals were arrested, and a total of 792 suspects were rounded up across board.
More than 1,500 laptops and 4,000 phones were seized in what authorities described as one of the largest cyber fraud operations ever uncovered in the country.
At the centre of it all was Genting International Company Limited, a firm the EFCC says was established in mid-2024 as a front for the criminal operation.
It reportedly hired over 200 Chinese nationals to supervise Nigerian recruits who executed the scams.
The building used as their base was disguised as a legitimate corporate finance office. The syndicate operated under Nigerian VPNs to mask their activities while using platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and a fake investment site, www.yooto.com, which charged victims fees starting at $35.
EFCC investigations found that one of the convicts’ bank accounts received over ₦3.4 billion in fraudulent proceeds.
As part of the plea deal, the convicts are to serve one year in prison, backdated to their arrest on December 10, 2024. They must each pay a ₦1 million fine. After serving their terms and settling the fines, they will be deported within seven days.
The court also ruled that all mobile devices, laptops, and routers used in the crimes be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.