Six Chinese nationals have been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts namely JIA You (a.k.a A. You), Wang Zheng Feng (a.k.a.Feng), Liu San Hua, Chen Wen Yuan, LIU BEIXING, and WEN ZONG XU (a.k.a.LI LONG), were sentenced by Justices D. I. Dipeolu and A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), they were among a 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”.
EFCC stated that they were subsequently arraigned on separate count charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
One of the charge reads: “That you LUO JIA YOU (a.k.a A. YOU) sometimes in December 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems used for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and you hereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as Amended, 2024) and Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.”
The defendants initially pleaded “not guilty”, however their plea was later changed to “guilty” during the sitting on Monday, June 23, 2025.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Babatunde Sonoiki, U. S. Kyari and B. M. Isah, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced each defendant to one year imprisonment, effective from the date of arrest, with an additional fine of ₦1,000,000 each.
The judge also ordered that, upon completion of their prison sentences, the Comptroller General of Immigration should ensure that they are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.
The mobile phones, computers, laptops and routers recovered during their arrest were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
