Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi

Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, convicted and sentenced twelve Filipinos to one year in prison each for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.



The sentenced individuals are: Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza.
They were brought to court on the same day by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on various charges related to the possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the charges states: "That you, Anjeanette Topacio, in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, intentionally accessed computer systems to severely destabilize and undermine Nigeria's core economic and social structures by enlisting Nigerian youths for identity theft, representing themselves as foreign nationals, with the aim of obtaining financial benefits for yourselves.

This constitutes an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022." Another count reads: "That you, Shairah Mae Reyes, in December 2024, in Lagos, possessed a document containing false pretenses, printed from your Telegram account, where you falsely claimed to be a woman living in the UK, an assertion you knew to be untrue, thereby committing an offense under Section 6 (8c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act." All defendants pleaded "guilty" to the charges presented to them.

In light of their pleas, prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa requested that the court proceed with sentencing as per the plea agreement made with the Commission. Justice Bogoro subsequently sentenced each defendant to one year in prison and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira). The judge also directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their home country within seven days following the completion of their sentences. Additionally, all devices seized from the defendants were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.