A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each and fined them N1 million for economic sabotage and financial terrorism. The defendants, including two women, pleaded guilty to charges related to cybercrime and economic sabotage following a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Daniel Osiagor handed down the sentences on Thursday, ordering that the prison terms commence from December 10, 2024, the date of their arrest. Upon completion of their sentences, the Nigerian Immigration Service is mandated to repatriate the convicts to China. Additionally, all items seized from the defendants, including furniture, laptops, and other gadgets, were ordered forfeited to the Nigerian government.
The defendants, Zhao Xiang Hui, Liu Hai Rong, Liu Gang, Du Ji Geng, Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, and Deng Wei Qiang, were arrested during a raid on a building in the Oyin Jolayemi area of Lagos in December 2024. The EFCC arrested over 700 individuals suspected of cyber terrorism and economic sabotage in the operation.
According to court documents, the defendants accessed computer systems to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structures by recruiting Nigerian youths to commit identity theft and impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain. Their actions violated the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (amended 2024), and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.
EFCC counsel Nnemeka Omewa confirmed the plea bargain agreement and requested the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. Defence counsel Folarin Damela supported the arrangement, which the court accepted without objection.
