Five Chinese nationals sentenced for cyberterrorism, Internet fraud in Lagos

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) achieved a conviction and sentencing of five Chinese nationals for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday.

The individuals convicted according to a release by the anti-graft agency are Guo Qiang (also known as Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang.

These individuals are part of a larger group of 792 alleged suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams, who were apprehended on December 19, 2024, during a sting operation called the ‘Eagle Flush Operation,’ carried out by EFCC agents.

They faced various charges related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

One of the charges states, “That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court, wilfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024]”.

They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them. However, during Tuesday’s sitting, they all changed their “not guilty plea” to “guilty.”

In view of this, the prosecution counsel, U.S Kyari, prayed the court to convict them as charged.
All the defendants were sentenced to one year imprisonment, with a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).

The judge also ordered that upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, should ensure that they are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.