A data review and statements published by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) show that at least 99 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, have been convicted for cybercrime, cyberterrorism, illegal mining and internet fraud in Nigeria between May and July.
The latest convictions were 15 Chinese nationals convicted in July. Justices Ayokunle Faji and Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, found them guilty of cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts 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.
A review on EFCC updates shows that most of these convictions stem from arrests made during a December 19 sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush’, where 792 foreign nationals, including Chinese, Filipinos, a Pakistani and a Malaysian, were arrested in Lagos on suspicion of operating cybercriminal syndicates.
July 1
Five Chinese nationals, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang, were jailed in Lagos.
June 27
Fourteen Chinese nationals were convicted by Justice Daniel Osiagor in Lagos.
June 23
Seventeen Chinese nationals were sentenced by Justices Dipeolu and Osiagor. Their names are: Yu Hui (aka A.Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (aka Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (aka A Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, and Chen Wen Yuan.
June 20
Three judges jailed 18 individuals 15 Chinese, two Filipinos (Rachelle Cabalona and Caselyn Pionela) and one Pakistani (Khurram Shahzad) in Lagos.
June 10
Nine Chinese nationals, Li Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng, w. They had initially pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea.
May 31
Justice Yellim Bogoro and Justice A. O. Owoeye sentenced 15 foreign nationals, including 11 Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian and one Indonesian. They were arraigned on charges related to the possession of fraudulent documents.
May 15
In Jos, Plateau State, four Chinese nationals, Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong, were sentenced to 20 years each for illegal mining. The EFCC said they were caught dealing in solid minerals without lawful authority.
In all the cases, EFCC claimed the foreigners were part of organised groups that operated elaborate investment and romance scams, often involving the use of cryptocurrency, fake websites, cloned identities and remote access tools to defraud victims within and outside Nigeria.
Their conviction comes just weeks before a new federal policy takes effect, warning foreigners overstaying their visas to regularise their status by August 1 or face stiff penalties, including daily fines and possible entry bans, according to the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
