A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 18 foreign nationals to one year of imprisonment each for cybercrime, fraud, impersonation, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
The convicts, initially pleading not guilty, later changed their pleas under a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The rulings were delivered separately by Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke and Yellim Bogoro.
The defendants were part of a larger group of 193 foreign nationals arrested by EFCC operatives in December 2024 at a seven-storey building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. In total, 792 suspects linked to a global cybercrime and cryptocurrency fraud syndicate were apprehended.
Justice Aneke sentenced six defendants—including Eliza Gapparova, Diana Kadyrbekova, Nasrine Chouaieb, Jiang Han Hua, Liao Zhang, and Genting International Co. Limited—on charges of cyberterrorism, identity theft, and using Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain. The plea bargain was negotiated by prosecution lead Zeinat Atiku and defence counsel Osuala Nwafbara, Z.S. Makinde, and Peter Taiwo.
Justice Bogoro sentenced 12 Philippine nationals—Jean Calatar Maunfo, Donne Reges, Roseann Gonzaus, Mary Grace Dela Piazza Camara, Lari Jane Tayae, Jonilyn Agulto, Jonalyn Mendoza, Anjeannet Topacio, and Arramef Topacio—under similar terms. The prosecution was led by Hanatu Kofanaisa and Temitope Banjo, with Bridget Omateno representing the defence.
According to the EFCC, the convicts operated as part of an international syndicate running a fraudulent network called “HK”. The operation involved over 1,500 laptops and 4,000 phones, training both Nigerian and foreign youths in romance and investment scams targeting victims in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Genting International Company Limited, allegedly controlled by the syndicate’s leaders, was incorporated in mid-2024 and employed 200 Chinese nationals to recruit and supervise Nigerian youths involved in the scams.
EFCC revealed the suspects operated from a Victoria Island facility disguised as a corporate financial headquarters, using Nigerian VPNs to conceal their activities. The scams were conducted via WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and a fake investment website, http://www.yooto.com, charging victims fees starting from $35.
One defendant’s account reportedly received over N3.4 billion in fraudulent proceeds.
Under the plea agreement, the convicts received one-year prison sentences retroactive to their arrest on December 10, 2024, along with fines of N1 million each. After serving their sentences and paying fines, they will be deported within seven days.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all mobile phones, laptops, and routers used in the crimes to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
