BREAKING: Court Jails 15 Foreigners for Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos

Justices Yellin Bogoro and Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday convicted and sentenced 15 foreign nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the defendants—11 Filipinos, two Chinese nationals, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian—on separate charges related to possession of fraudulent documents and cyber-related offences.

The convicted individuals are:
Winnie De Jesus, Kayceelynn Remorin, Irish Chna, Darwisa Esmael, Kimberly Nisperos, Savien Cire Renovilla, Zeng Zerong, Guo Bin, Jessa Sanchi, Jhena Sarmiento, Rain Torida, Rex Jose Dilag (aka Madison), Tan Soon Kar, Fernando Fu Fang, and Beverlyin Gumayo (aka Veb Sumayo).

According to the EFCC, the accused conspired to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structures by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft, impersonation, and internet fraud—posing as foreign nationals to gain financial advantage.

One of the charges read:
“That you, WINNIE DE JESUS & GENTING INTERNATIONAL Co. LTD, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully accessed computer systems with intent to seriously destabilize and destroy the fundamental economic and social structures of Nigeria, by procuring Nigerian youths for identity theft. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Another charge against Kayceelynn Remorin stated:
“That you, KAYCEELYN REMORIN and GENTING INTERNATIONAL Co. LTD, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, willfully accessed computer systems to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structures by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft. You thereby committed an offence under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).”

Additionally, Remorin was charged with impersonation:
“That you, KAYCEELYN REMORIN, in December 2024, fraudulently impersonated one ANASTACIA LIM with intent to gain financial advantage for your employer, thereby committing an offence under Sections 22(2)(b) and 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.”

All 15 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges during arraignment.

Following their pleas, EFCC prosecution counsel—N.K. Ukoha, T.J. Banjo, and N.C. Mutfwang—urged the court to convict the defendants in line with the plea bargains entered into with the Commission.

Consequently, Justices Bogoro and Owoeye sentenced each convict to one year imprisonment and a fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira).

The court also directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to repatriate the convicts to their respective countries within seven days of completing their sentences.

Furthermore, all devices recovered from the convicts were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.