Nigeria to deport 15 Chinese nationals following cybercrime and internet fraud conviction

The federal high court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 15 Chinese nationals for crimes bordering on cybercrime and internet fraud. The latest development has again heightened the crackdown on fraudulent activities by Nigerian security agencies. 

According to a notice by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Chinese nationals were arraigned on Thursday before two Federal High Court Judges sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos: Justice Ayokunle Faji and Justice Dehinde Dipeolu on separate charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. 

The 15 Chinese nationals are Ling Yang, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Zheng Ming, Wang Jia Qi, Yang Sheng, Peng Sen Lin, Guo Xiao Fei, Chen An Shun, Peng Sen Lin, Zhao Ying Bin, Yu Zi aka Wei Xue Huan, Zhang Yang, Wang Zhi Cheng, Yang Sheng and Lu Yubo. 

In addition, the suspects were prosecuted on separate charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, e.t.c.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022. The charges detailed a range of offences, including identity theft, online dating scams, and the destabilisation of Nigeria’s economic and social structures through cyberterrorism.

Consequently, the Judges convicted and sentenced them as charged, and were sentenced to one year imprisonment each, with a fine of N1 million. The court also ordered that, upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) should ensure that they are repatriated to China within 7 days. 

The development comes in light of recent convictions on Chinese and Filipinos who are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by the anti-graft agency. 

Cybercrime on the rampage in Nigeria

The latest ruling has again reflected Nigeria’s strengthened legal framework, with amendments to the Cybercrimes Act in 2024 enhancing penalties for digital offences. It also reflects the pandemic of international collaborators with Nigerians to commit a series of fraudulent activities. 

Nigeria is also found within varying degrees of cybercrime, where over 3,455 convictions were recorded in 2022 alone. 

A 2024 report by the World Cybercrime Index, produced by researchers from the Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, and the University of New South Wales, Canberra, ranked Nigeria as 5th on sources of cybercrime activities, coming behind Russia, which ranked number one, and Ukraine, China, and the United States, which occupied the second, third, and fourth positions respectively. The report identifies the globe’s major cybercrime hotspots by ranking the most significant sources of cybercrime at a national level.

As the data represents a disturbing threat to economic advancement, the financial toll is particularly significant. Reports revealed that Nigeria loses approximately $500 million to cybercrime annually, attributed to losses from phishing, SIM swap fraud, identity theft, and other malware activities.

In addition, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that over 25 million Nigerians have been affected by one form of cybercrime or the other, with losses estimated at over N250 billion yearly.

Experts have noted that the rise of cybercrime in Nigeria can be traced to several socio-economic factors, including unemployment, poverty, and the lure of quick wealth. With a high rate of unemployment, the promise of financial gain through illicit online activities often outweighs the risks associated with such ventures. 

In addition, there were accounts that these young Nigerians view cybercrime as a lucrative alternative to traditional employment. The easy access to sophisticated hacking tools and the anonymity provided by the internet have also emboldened these cybercriminals.

On a positive note, the continuous crackdown highlights the growing efforts by the federal government to curb fraudulent activities and protect the country’s integrity across the global stage.