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By Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, secured the conviction and sentence of five Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu.
They were investigated by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The suspects are: Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang.
They are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives.
They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
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One of the charges reads: “That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully caused to be accessed a computer system 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 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them. However, during Tuesday’s sitting, they all changed their “not guilty” plea to “guilty.”
In view of this, the prosecution counsel, U.S. Kyari, prayed the court to convict them as charged.
All the defendants were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, with a fine of N1 million.
The judge also ordered that upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service should ensure that they are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.
