Court Jails 17 Chinese Nationals for Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 23, 2025, sentenced 17 Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for offences bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the convictions before Justices D.E. Osiagor and D.I. Dipeolu, following a plea bargain agreement reached with the defendants.

The convicted individuals are: 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 among 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested during a sting operation codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by EFCC operatives in Lagos on December 19, 2024.

Each of the 17 defendants was arraigned separately in February 2025 on a one-count charge of accessing computer systems with the intent to destabilise and damage Nigeria’s economy and social structure—an offence contrary to Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

Initially, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges but changed their plea to guilty during Monday’s proceedings. Prosecution counsels Nneemeka Omewa, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah informed the court of the plea bargain agreements, which were adopted and accepted.

Consequently, the court sentenced each convict to one year imprisonment effective from the date of their arrest, December 10, 2024, and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) on each of them.

Additionally, the court ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to facilitate the repatriation of all 17 convicts to China within seven days of the judgment.

All items recovered during their arrest, including mobile phones, laptop computers, and routers, were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.