June 13, 2025
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced eleven individuals—including four Filipinos and seven Nigerians—to various jail terms for their involvement in cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that the convicts were arrested following a coordinated intelligence-led operation targeting a transnational cybercrime syndicate operating in Nigeria.
According to the EFCC, the foreign nationals and their Nigerian accomplices were found guilty of multiple offences, including identity theft, phishing scams, wire fraud, and cyberterrorism, which violated several provisions of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
During the trial, the prosecution presented digital forensic evidence linking the convicts to coordinated attacks on financial institutions, illicit wire transfers, and the use of advanced malware to compromise systems globally.
Justice A.O. Faji, who presided over the case, condemned the group’s actions, noting the impact of cybercrime on Nigeria’s global reputation and the need to send a strong message to would-be offenders. The convicts were sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to ten years, with some also receiving fines and orders to forfeit assets to the Federal Government.
Reacting to the verdict, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described it as a “major victory” in the fight against cybercrime, stressing the Commission’s commitment to rooting out cybercriminal networks, regardless of nationality.
The sentencing marks one of the most high-profile convictions involving foreign nationals in Nigeria’s crackdown on internet-related crime.
