- A Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced 17 Chinese nationals to one year in prison for cybercrime, following a plea bargain secured by the EFCC.
- The convicts were among 792 suspects arrested during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” in Lagos on December 19, 2024.
- Each convict was fined ₦1 million, with their jail term backdated to December 10, 2024, and the court ordered their deportation to China within seven days.
Seventeen Chinese nationals have each been sentenced to one year in prison by a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
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The sentencing, which took place on Monday, June 23, 2025, followed plea bargain agreements secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justices D.E. Osiagor and D.I. Dipeolu.
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Those convicted include Yu Hui (also known as A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (also known as Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (also known as A. Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, and Chen Wen Yuan.
They were part of a broader crackdown on cybercriminal activity, in which 792 suspects were apprehended during an EFCC sting operation code-named “Eagle Flush Operation” in Lagos on December 19, 2024.
Each of the 17 individuals faced a single charge related to illegally accessing computer systems with the intent to undermine Nigeria’s economy and social systems—a violation of Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
Initially pleading not guilty during their arraignment in February 2025, the defendants later changed their plea. Prosecutors Nneemeka Omewa, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah informed the court of the plea deal, which was accepted.
Following their conviction, the court imposed a one-year sentence on each defendant, backdated to their arrest on December 10, 2024, along with a fine of ₦1 million each.
The court further directed the Nigerian Immigration Service to deport all 17 individuals to China within seven days of the ruling.
It also ordered that items seized at the time of arrest, including mobile phones, laptops, and routers, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Rail Track Vandals Arrested Across Ilorin, Kano, Gombe as NRC Vows Crackdown
Suspected vandals targeting Nigeria’s railway infrastructure have been apprehended in coordinated operations across Ilorin, Kano, and Gombe states, following a string of attacks on key components of the nation’s rail network.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the suspects were nabbed after several reported cases of theft involving critical railway materials.
