Nine Chinese nationals jailed for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts — Li Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng — were among the 792 individuals apprehended during a sting operation codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024.

According to the EFCC, the nine suspects were arraigned in February 2025 on separate one-count charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

“The defendants initially pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to them,” the commission said in a statement released Tuesday.

However, during the hearing on Thursday, June 5, 2025, the defendants changed their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty.”

Following the change of plea, prosecution counsel Nnaemeka Omewa urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, thereafter convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment starting from their date of arrest — December 10, 2024. The judge also imposed a fine of ₦1,000,000 on each convict.

Justice Osiagor further directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure the convicts are repatriated to China within seven days of completing their jail terms.

Additionally, all mobile phones, laptops, computers, and routers seized from the convicts at the time of their arrest were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.