Five Chinese nationals have been sentenced to varying jail terms after pleading guilty to charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The foreigners were arraigned before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
“The convicts were prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.”
“The convicted individuals are: Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang.”
“They were among a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives.”
“They were arraigned on separate charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.”
“One of the charges reads: ‘That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable 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).’”
“They initially pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.”
“However, during Tuesday’s sitting, they all changed their plea from ‘not guilty’ to ‘guilty.’”
“In response, the prosecution counsel, U.S Kyari, urged the court to convict them as charged.”
“All the defendants were sentenced to one year imprisonment each, with an option of a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).”
“The judge further ordered that upon completion of their jail terms, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, must ensure their repatriation to their home country within seven days.”
