Kehinde Fajobi
Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 109 foreigners accused of high-level cybercrimes in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities until the next hearing on November 29, 2024.
This decision follows a request from the defence counsel, who argued that the police facility holding the suspects was not suitable for such a large group.
The arraignment of the suspects was delayed due to discrepancies in the charge sheet, including misrepresentation of the suspects’ names and issues with legal representation.
Ogwu Onoja, counsel for some of the defendants, also highlighted the need for interpreters in court for those who do not understand spoken English.
Eric Oba, representing the Brazilian defendants, requested that his clients be separated from the others, but this was rejected by the court, as the arraignment had not yet occurred.
The case had previously been adjourned for similar reasons, including the lack of legal representation for the suspects.
Justice Akpan had postponed the previous hearing to allow the defendants to secure lawyers and ensure that they were adequately briefed.
The suspects, who were arrested on November 3, 2024, during a coordinated raid in Jahi, Abuja, face six charges related to cybercrime.
The group consists of 113 foreign nationals, including 87 men and 26 women from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and Malaysia, as well as 17 Nigerian collaborators.
The charges include entering Nigeria with business permits that expired and remaining in the country without valid resident permits or visas, in violation of the Immigration Act 2015.
Another charge accuses them of promoting a fraudulent gambling platform via electronic messages, resulting in significant financial losses for people both within and outside Nigeria.
The charges are in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.