By Emamuzo Iboma
Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July 7, 2025, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicted individuals are Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (also known as Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li De Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming. They were part of a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters arrested on December 19, 2024, during a sting operation in Lagos codenamed ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were subsequently arraigned on a separate one-count charge of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC.
According to the charge, the nine individuals conspired in December 2024 in Lagos to access a computer system with the intent to destabilize and destroy the economy and social structure of Nigeria. The offence contravened Section 27(1)(b) and is punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.
Initially, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, but at the court sitting on Monday, they changed their plea to guilty. Following their plea change, prosecuting counsel R. A. Abdulrasheed asked the court to convict them accordingly.
Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment, effective from the date of arrest on December 10, 2024. The court also imposed a fine of N1,000,000 on each of the convicts.
The judge further ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure the repatriation of the convicts to their country of origin within seven days.
