Lagos Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals For Cyberterrorism

Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has found nine Chinese individuals guilty and sentenced them to one year in prison each for charges related to cyber-terrorism and online fraud.

The convicted individuals are: LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng.

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

They were later charged with one-count separate offenses of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, located at Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The charge states: “That you, LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang and Du Ji Feng, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”

Initially, they pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were presented to them. However, during the court session on Thursday, June 5, 2025, they changed their plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, requested that the court convict and sentence them accordingly.

In response, the defense counsel concurred with the prosecution’s submission and urged the court to accept it.

As a result, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date of December 10, 2025, along with a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) each.

The Judge also directed that, upon completion of their prison terms, the Comptroller General of Immigration must ensure their repatriation to their country of origin within seven days.

All mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized from them during their arrest were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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