By Martin Ekpeke
A Federal High Court in Lagos has handed down one-year prison sentences to nine Chinese nationals after they pleaded guilty to charges of cryptocurrency fraud and cyber terrorism. The conviction, delivered yesterday marks a significant victory for Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime and financial fraud.
The nine individuals – Li Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng – were among 792 suspects apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024. This massive operation, dubbed “Eagle Flush,” was the agency’s largest-ever raid targeting cryptocurrency investment fraud and online romance scams.
Initially, the defendants had pleaded “not guilty” during their arraignment in February 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC. However, in the recent court proceedings, they changed their plea to “guilty.”
The charge against them detailed a conspiracy to “cause to be accessed a computer system used for destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria,” an offense contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
Following their guilty plea, EFCC prosecution counsel Nnaemeka Omewa requested their conviction and sentencing. The defence counsel did not object, and Justice D.E. Osiagor subsequently ruled that each defendant would serve one year in prison, with the sentence backdated to their arrest on December 10, 2024. Additionally, each convict was fined N1 million.
Beyond the prison sentences, the court has ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure the repatriation of the nine Chinese nationals to China within seven days of completing their terms. They have also forfeited all seized items, including mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This successful conviction of foreign nationals underscores Nigeria’s firm stance against cybercrime, sending a strong message regarding its commitment to combating financial fraud, particularly within the burgeoning cryptocurrency and online scam sectors. The “Eagle Flush Operation” in December 2024, which led to these arrests, involved 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, one Indonesian, and numerous Nigerian suspects, highlighting the transnational nature of these criminal activities.