Court jails 15 foreign nationals over cyber-terrorism, internet fraud

A federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday convicted and sentenced 15 foreign nationals to one year in prison each for cyber-terrorism and internet-related fraud.

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

The convicts 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).

One of the charges alleged that in December 2024, Winnie De Jesus and Genting International Co. Ltd. deliberately facilitated unauthorised access to computer systems in Lagos, with the aim of undermining Nigeria’s economic and social stability.

They were accused of recruiting Nigerian youths to engage in identity theft schemes for their own financial benefit.

Another count accused Kayceelynn Remorin and Genting International Co. Ltd of accessing computer systems and recruiting Nigerians for impersonation schemes, while one charge specifically accused Remorin of fraudulently impersonating one Anastacia Lim to benefit her employer.

All 15 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha, T.J. Banjo, and N.C. Mutfwang prayed the court to convict the defendants in accordance with the plea bargain agreement.

Yellin Bogoro and Alexander Owoeye, the presiding justices, sentenced each convict to one year of imprisonment and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 per person on them.

The court further ordered the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to repatriate the convicts to their countries of origin within seven days of completing their sentences.

All electronic devices recovered from the convicts were also ordered to be forfeited to the federal government.