No fewer than nine Chinese nationals have been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
This follows the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) securing their conviction before Justice D. E.Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on July 7, 2025.
The convicted individuals are Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming.
According to the EFCC, they are 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”, conducted by its operatives.
The Commission stated that they were subsequently arraigned on a separate one -count charge of cyber- terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
The charge reads: “That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them. However, during Monday’s sitting, their pleas changed to “guilty”.
In view of this, the prosecution counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment, to run from the date of arrest, along with a fine of ₦1 million.
The judge also directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.
He further ordered that the mobile phones, desktop computers, laptops, and routers seized during their arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
