Internet Fraud Scandal: Nigerian Court Jails 9 Chinese Nationals, Orders Immediate Deportation

Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year in prison each for involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The convicted individuals 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.

They were part of a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency and romance fraudsters apprehended during a sting operation—codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation”—carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 19, 2024, in Lagos.

In February 2025, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC arraigned them on separate one-count charges relating to cyber-terrorism and online fraud. According to the charge, the group conspired to access computer systems with the intent to destabilize and damage Nigeria’s economy and social structure—an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.

Although the accused initially pleaded not guilty, they changed their pleas to guilty on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Following this, the EFCC counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, requested the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, a position the defence did not oppose.

Justice Osiagor consequently sentenced each defendant to one year imprisonment, effective from their arrest date—December 10, 2024—and imposed a fine of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) on each of them.

The court also directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to deport the convicts to China within seven days after they complete their prison terms.

Additionally, all devices recovered during the arrest—phones, laptops, computers, and routers—were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Let me know if you want this tailored for a news article, blog post, or press release.