In a significant judgment against crime, the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced 18 foreign nationals to one year imprisonment each for cybercrime, fraud, impersonation, and attempting to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke and Yellim Bogoro delivered the judgments in two separate rulings.
Persecondnews reports that the convicts, who had initially pleaded not guilty, changed their pleas as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts were among 193 foreign nationals arrested by EFCC operatives in December 2024 at a seven-storey building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In total, 792 suspects were apprehended in connection with a global cybercrime and cryptocurrency fraud syndicate.
Justice Aneke sentenced six defendants—Eliza Gapparova, Diana Kadyrbekova, Nasrine Chouaieb, Jiang Han Hua, Liao Zhang, and Genting International Co. Limited—to prison for offences including cyber terrorism, identity theft, and orchestrating the use of Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain.
The convictions were secured pursuant to a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution, led by Mrs. Zeinat Atiku, and the defence team comprising Mr. Osuala Nwagbara, Mr. Z.S. Makinde, and Mr. Peter Taiwo.
Justice Bogoro similarly sentenced 12 Philippine nationals—Jean Calatar Maunfo, Donne Reges, Roseann Gonzaus, Mary Grace Dela Piazza Camara, Lari Jane Tayae, Jonilyn Agulto, Jonalyn Mendoza, Anjeannet Topacio, Arramef Topacio, and three others not specified earlier—under the same terms.
The court’s decision followed submissions by prosecution counsel Mrs. Hanatu Kofanaisa and Mr. Temitope Banjo, while Mrs. Bridget Omateno represented the defence.
The EFCC revealed that the convicts were members of an international syndicate operating a fraudulent network known as “HK”.
The operation reportedly utilised over 1,500 laptops and 4,000 phones, training both Nigerian and foreign nationals in romance and investment scams targeting victims in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Genting International Company Limited, allegedly controlled by the syndicate’s ringleaders, was incorporated in mid-2024 and employed 200 Chinese nationals to recruit and oversee Nigerian youths involved in the fraudulent schemes.
The EFCC informed the court that the suspects operated from the Victoria Island premises, masquerading as a corporate financial headquarters, and utilised Nigerian VPNs to conceal their activities.
The scams were perpetrated via platforms including WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and a fake investment website, (https://www.yooto.com), which levied victims fees starting from $35.
One defendant’s account reportedly received over N3.4 billion in illicit proceeds. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the convicts were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, backdated to their arrest on December 10, 2024.
Additionally, they were ordered to pay a fine of N1 million each. Following completion of their sentences and payment of the fines, they will be deported within seven days.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all mobile phones, laptops, and routers used in the commission of the offences to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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