Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced twelve Filipino nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts — Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza — were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges involving possession of fraudulent documents and cyber offences.
One of the charges revealed that Topacio accessed computer systems in a bid to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structure by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonation schemes, a violation of both the Cybercrimes Act and the Terrorism Prevention Act.
Another charge against Reyes accused her of possessing false documents on Telegram, including messages where she impersonated a UK-based woman to defraud unsuspecting individuals—an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
All defendants pleaded guilty and were convicted following plea bargain agreements with the EFCC. Justice Bogoro sentenced each of them to one year imprisonment and a fine of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira).
The judge further directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to repatriate the convicts to the Philippines within seven days after serving their sentences. Electronic devices recovered from the defendants were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
