Courts Jail 17 Chinese Nationals for Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos

Seventeen Chinese nationals have been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The sentencing was handed down on Monday, June 23, 2025, by Justices D.E. Osiagor and D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convicts—Yu Hui (a.k.a. A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (a.k.a. Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (a.k.a. A. Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Zhang Lei, Huang Zhi, Pan Jiong, and Chen Wen Yuan—were among a syndicate of 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested during a massive sting operation tagged Eagle Flush Operation in December 2024.

The EFCC operatives apprehended the suspects on December 19, 2024, in Lagos. They were subsequently arraigned in February 2025 on separate one-count charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

One of the charges read:
“That you, Yu Hui (a.k.a. A. Bin), Huang Jin Hui, Fei Fan, Lu Qiang, Hu Xi Zheng, Sun Zhi Peng, Wu Hao, Cong Bing, Li Qiang (a.k.a. Yang Huan Huan), Zheng Wei (a.k.a. A. Hong), Cheng Jian, Da Tou, A Wen, Huang Zhi, and Zhang Lei, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, caused to be accessed computer systems used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.”

Another charge read:
“That you, Pan Jiong and Chen Wen Yuan, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, caused to be accessed computer systems used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.”

The convicts initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, during Monday’s court proceedings, they changed their pleas to “guilty.”

Prosecution counsel Nneemeka Omewa, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah informed the court that the defendants had entered into a plea bargain agreement. The defence counsel confirmed this and urged the court to adopt the agreement.

Following their guilty pleas, Justices Osiagor and Dipeolu convicted and sentenced each defendant to one year imprisonment, effective from the date of arrest—December 19, 2024. In addition, each convict was fined the sum of ?1,000,000 (One Million Naira).

The court also ordered the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to China within seven days of completing their jail term.

Furthermore, all devices used in the crimes—including mobile phones, laptops, computers, and routers—were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.