The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed July 2 for the trial of 109 foreigners over alleged involvement in high-level cybercrime and hacking activities said to be threatening the nation’s security.
The matter could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, in court.
The judge was said to be on another official engagement. The case was the only matter on the day’s cause list.
The court subsequently fixed July 2 and July 3 for trial.
Justice Akpan had, on Nov. 29, 2024, admitted the foreigners to a N1bn bail with five sureties.
The judge, who granted them bail, directed that the five sureties must have landed property worth N200,000 million each.
Justice Akpan directed that the sureties must deposit the original and verified documents of their landed property with the deputy registrar of the court.
The judge also directed the sureties to deposit their international passports.
While the male defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, the court held that the female defendants should be kept at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State pending the perfection of their bail terms.
The defendants, who were arraigned on a six-count charge, all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The foreigners are said to be citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar. They were, in 2024, arrested by the police.
They were apprehended in their residence at Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime by allegedly promoting “a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform”.
In a six-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 and filed in the name of the Inspector-General of Police, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering, and unlawfully residing in Nigeria.
In one of the counts, they were alleged to have aided, abetted, and conspired among themselves “to commit an offence, to wit: cybercrime”.
They were said to have committed the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).
They were also alleged to have accessed a computer network and input with the intention that such inauthentic data would be considered or acted upon as if it were authentic or genuine.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).
Again, they were alleged to have removed “from Nigeria proceeds generated from operating fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms.
“These platforms are 9f.com, c2.top and 8pg.top, and you thereby commit money laundering, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendants were also accused of entering “the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days duration and failing to leave the Nigerian territory at the expiration of the said permit.
The offence is contrary to Section 4 (2) and punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 2015.”
