Justices D.E. Osiagor and D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, have sentenced 17 Chinese nationals to one year in prison for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts include Yu Hui (a.k.a A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, and Li Qiang (a.k.a Yang Huan Huan).
Other are Zheng Wei (a.k.a A. Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, and Chen Wen Yuan.
They were among a syndicate of 792 suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, during a coordinated sting operation codenamed “Eagle Flush,” carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.
The syndicate was allegedly involved in widespread cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud schemes targeting Nigerian victims.
The 17 convicts were arraigned in February 2025 on separate one-count charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
One of the charges against them read: “That you, Yu Hui (a.k.a A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (a.k.a Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (a.k.a A. Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Huang Zhi, and Zhang Lei, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, accessed a computer system used with intent to destabilize and destroy the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
Another count read: “That you, Pan Jiong and Chen Wen Yuan, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, accessed a computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea to guilty during Monday’s proceedings.
Following the change of plea, the prosecuting counsel, Nneemeka Omewa, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah, informed the court of a plea bargain agreement entered into by the defendants.
The defence counsel confirmed the arrangement and urged the court to uphold it.
The court subsequently convicted and sentenced each of the 17 defendants to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date—December 19, 2024. Each convict was also given an option of a N1 million fine.
The judges ordered the immediate forfeiture of all devices recovered during their arrest, including mobile phones, laptops, computers, and routers, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Additionally, the Comptroller General of Immigration was directed to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to China within seven days of the judgment.
