Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State has sentenced five Chinese Nationals on charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts were prosecuted by Lagos State Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday.
EFCC identified the suspects as, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng and Lu Yi Liang.
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They were said to be among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024 in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court, wilfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024]”.
READ MORE: Lagos Court Jails 17 Chinese Nationals For Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud
The accused pleaded not guilty upon arraignment. However, during the court proceedings on Tuesday, they reversed their plea to guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, U.S. Kyari, to request their conviction.
Meanwhile, all the defendants were sentenced to one year imprisonment, with a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).
The judge also ordered that upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, should ensure that they are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.
