On July 1, 2025, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi delivered a landmark judgment against five Chinese nationals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cyberterrorism and internet fraud scheme in Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Guo Qiang, Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang with unlawfully accessing computer systems and targeting Nigeria’s economic infrastructure.
According to the EFCC, the defendants formed part of a larger syndicate responsible for romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud, which ensnared hundreds of victims across multiple continents.
The suspects were originally apprehended on December 19, 2024, during “Operation Eagle Flush,” a high-profile sting that netted 792 individuals suspected of cybercrime activities in Lagos. During arraignment, the accused initially pleaded not guilty but reversed their pleas to guilty in open court when faced with irrefutable evidence .
Prosecution counsel U.S. Kyari moved swiftly to secure convictions, and Justice Dipeolu wasted no time in passing sentence. Each defendant received a one-year custodial term and was fined ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira). In addition, the court ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to repatriate them to China within seven days of completing their sentences, underscoring Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on cyberterrorism.
This ruling underscores the EFCC’s enhanced capabilities in tackling complex transnational fraud networks. Experts say the conviction will serve as a deterrent to foreign nationals exploiting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure for illicit gain.
As the global fight against cybercrime intensifies, authorities vow to expand surveillance and collaborate with international partners to dismantle similar syndicates.
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