Court jails 17 Chinese nationals for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud in Lagos

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Court jails 17 Chinese nationals for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud in Lagos

Seventeen Chinese nationals were on Monday, June 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convictions followed a plea bargain deal reached with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after the defendants initially pleaded “not guilty” but later changed their pleas to “guilty.”

The convicts — Yu Hui (a.k.a A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (a.k.a Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (a.k.a A Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, and Chen Wen Yuan — were sentenced by Justices D.E. Osiagor and D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court.

They were among the 792 suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation codenamed Eagle Flush Operation by EFCC operatives targeting cryptocurrency investment and romance scam networks.

They were later arraigned on separate one-count charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025.

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One of the charges reads, “That you, Yu Hui (A.K.A A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (A.K.A Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (A.K.A A Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Huang Zhi, Zhang Lei, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, caused to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”

Another charge reads, “That you, Pan Jiong and Chen Wen Yuan, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”

Following the change of plea, prosecution counsel Nneemeka Omewa, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah informed the court of the plea bargain arrangement. The defence counsel confirmed the submission and urged the court to accept the agreement.

The judges consequently sentenced the convicts to one year imprisonment effective from the date of their arrest, December 19, 2024. In addition, each convict was fined N1 million.

The court also ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to repatriate the convicts to their country of origin within seven days.

Furthermore, the mobile phones, laptops, routers, and other devices recovered from them during arrest were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.