Nigeria repatriate 51 foreign nationals jailed for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), have repatriated 51 more foreign nationals convicted and sentenced for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The repatriated foreign nationals include 50 Chinese and one Tunisian.
This brings the total repatriated convicted foreign nationals to 102 in the ongoing exercise that commenced on Friday, August 15, 2025.
The convicts are among the 192 foreign nationals arrested during a sting operation by the Commission in Lagos, following actionable intelligence about the operations of one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates in Nigeria.
Further deportations are scheduled in the coming days, a statement on Thursday by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale stated .
Meanwhile, Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, on Thursday, August 21, 2025 convicted and jailed Efosa Richard, Victor Nwachukwu and Ekaye Emaike for internet fraud.
The trio were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate one-count charges, bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Richard reads: “That you Efosa Richard (m) on or about the 1st of August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your iPhone 16, with IMEI Number 35776226117235, documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty,” prompting prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi and K. Y. Bello to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
All the convicts mobile phones and laptop computers as well as money found in their respective bank accounts, were forfeited by the order of the court to federal government of Nigeria being the tools of their crimes being the proceeds of their crimes .
They further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
Their journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities.
