Court Sentences Six Chinese Individuals for Cyber-Terrorism and Internet Fraud

Court Sentences Six Chinese Individuals for Cyber-Terrorism and Internet Fraud in Lagos

Justice D. I. Dipeolu and Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, have convicted and sentenced six Chinese nationals to one year in prison each for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicted individuals are JIA You (also known as A. You), Wang Zheng Feng (also known as Feng), Liu San Hua, Chen Wen Yuan, Liu Beixing, and Wen Zong Xu (also known as Li Long). These individuals were part of a larger group of 792 suspected perpetrators of cryptocurrency investment and romance scams who were arrested on December 19, 2024, during a sting operation dubbed "Eagle Flush Operation" by operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were arraigned in February 2025 on multiple charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC. One of the charges states: "That you, LUO JIA YOU (also known as A. YOU), on or about December 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully accessed computer systems intended to destabilize and destroy the economic and social structure of Nigeria, thus committing an offense 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)." Initially, the defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges. However, during a hearing on June 23, 2025, they changed their plea to "guilty.

" In light of their admission, the prosecution team, consisting of Babatunde Sonoiki, U. S. Kyari, and B. M. Isah, requested the court to impose appropriate sentences. As a result, the court sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, beginning from their arrest date of December 10, 2025, and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) each.

The judge also ordered that upon completion of their prison terms, the Comptroller General of Immigration ensure their repatriation to their home country within seven days. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized from the defendants at the time of their arrest to the Federal Government of Nigeria.