Court Jails 8 Chinese For Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud In Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, obtained the conviction and sentencing of five Chinese individuals for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convicted individuals are: Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang.

They were part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects apprehended on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation named ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ carried out by EFCC operatives.

They faced separate charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

One of the charges states: “That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024]”.

Initially, they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges brought against them. However, during Tuesday’s session, they all changed their plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”

Consequently, the prosecution counsel, U.S Kyari, requested the court to convict them as charged.

Each defendant was sentenced to one year in prison, along with a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).

The judge further directed that, upon serving their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, must ensure their repatriation to their country of origin within seven days.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli