On 8 August 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted 21 foreign nationals for high-level cybercrime, imposing ₦1 million fines on each and ordering their deportation within six working days. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ekerete Akpan, follows a plea bargain with the Nigeria Police Force and underscores Nigeria’s tightening stance on cyber-enabled fraud and national security threats.
Justice Akpan’s decision came after the defendants agreed to a plea bargain, avoiding a protracted trial.
“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged,” Justice Akpan declared in court, affirming that the fines must be paid before release and departure.
The judgment also mandates the forfeiture of all gadgets used in committing the crimes to the Federal Government.
The 21 convicts are part of a larger group of 109 foreign nationals facing prosecution under multiple laws, including:
- Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act – Section 13 (unlawful access to computer networks and input of inauthentic data).
- Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 – Section 18 (laundering of criminal proceeds).
- Immigration Act, 2015 – Section 44(1)(c) (overstaying business permits).
Profiles of the Convicted
The convicted individuals, aged between 20 and 41, hail from China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Names include Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), and Tue Xue Fie (21), among others.
All were linked to a fraudulent, unregistered gaming platform allegedly operated from Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja.
Background of the Case
The defendants were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge and initially pleaded not guilty.
They were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres pending stringent bail conditions imposed on 29 November 2024 — ₦1 billion bail per defendant, with five sureties each owning ₦200 million worth of landed property.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, led the prosecution, alleging that the group’s operations generated illicit funds laundered through multiple channels, posing national security risks.
MEA and Global Cybersecurity Context
Nigeria, like many African nations, has been tightening its cybersecurity enforcement amid a surge in cross-border cyber-enabled financial crimes. This case reflects a broader MEA trend where states are imposing heavy financial penalties, equipment forfeiture, and swift deportations for foreign cyber offenders.
Internationally, similar measures have been seen in Singapore, the UAE, and South Africa, where foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime face both financial sanctions and expedited removal to curb systemic abuse of visa and immigration systems.
Expert Commentary
Cyber law expert Dr. Ifeoma Onyekwe noted:
“The coordinated prosecution of foreign cybercriminals in Nigeria sends a strong deterrence signal, especially when combined with asset forfeiture and deportation orders.”
Cybercrime analyst Abdulrahman Musa added:
“This case highlights the need for cross-border intelligence sharing. Many of these actors operate in transnational networks, and tackling them requires joint enforcement beyond Nigeria’s borders.”
Actionable Takeaways for CISOs, Regulators, and Law Enforcement
- Tighten KYC and AML protocols for gaming, fintech, and e-commerce platforms to detect foreign-operated fraud networks early.
- Enhance collaboration with immigration and customs authorities to track overstaying foreign operators with potential cybercrime links.
- Deploy continuous monitoring on high-risk IP ranges and foreign-hosted gaming platforms targeting local markets.
- Adopt digital forensics capabilities to preserve and analyse confiscated devices for intelligence on wider cybercrime syndicates.
- Engage in regional intelligence sharing under ECOWAS and AU cybersecurity frameworks.
- Update cybercrime awareness training for frontline immigration and police units.
- Mandate periodic compliance audits for all licensed gaming and online entertainment platforms.
- Implement rapid asset freeze mechanisms for suspected criminal proceeds in Nigerian financial institutions.
Conclusion
The conviction and deportation order mark one of Nigeria’s most coordinated legal responses to foreign-led cybercrime in recent years. With 88 more defendants awaiting trial in October 2025, the case could set a lasting precedent for high-speed adjudication, plea bargaining, and enforcement. For Nigeria and the wider MEA region, the message is clear: cybercriminals-foreign or local-face escalating costs, both financial and personal, for targeting national digital infrastructure.
