The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
Justice D.E. Osiagor delivered the ruling on Thursday, July 7, 2025, following their change of plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.” The convicts—Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (alias Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li De Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming—were also fined ₦1,000,000 each.
They were among 792 suspects arrested during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted in Lagos on December 19, 2024, targeting cryptocurrency investment and romance scam syndicates.
The EFCC had arraigned them on a one-count charge in February 2025 for conspiring to access computer systems with the intent to destabilize Nigeria’s economy and social structure—an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.
Justice Osiagor ordered that their sentence would run from their arrest date—December 10, 2024. He also directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure the convicts are repatriated to China within seven days of the judgment.
Additionally, all digital devices seized from them, including mobile phones, laptops, and routers, were forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
