LAGOS, NIGERIA — A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 18 foreign nationals to one year in prison each for their roles in a sophisticated cybercrime and fraud operation aimed at destabilizing Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
The defendants were among 193 foreigners arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024, during a major raid on a seven-storey building located on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island. In total, 792 suspects were apprehended in connection with the global cybercrime and cryptocurrency scam network.
The convicts, initially pleading not guilty, changed their pleas under a plea bargain agreement. The judgments were delivered in separate rulings by Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke and Yellim Bogoro.
Justice Aneke sentenced six individuals and a corporate entity:
Eliza Gapparova
Diana Kadyrbekova
Nasrine Chouaieb
Jiang Han Hua
Liao Zhang
Genting International Co. Limited
They were convicted of cyberterrorism, identity theft, and orchestrating schemes that used Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain.
Justice Bogoro sentenced 12 Philippine nationals under similar charges:
Jean Calatar Maunfo
Donne Reges
Roseann Gonzaus
Mary Grace Dela Piazza Camara
Lari Jane Tayae
Jonilyn Agulto
Jonalyn Mendoza
Anjeannet Topacio
Arramef Topacio
EFCC prosecutors Zeinat Atiku, Hanatu Kofanaisa, and Temitope Banjo led the case, while Bridget Omateno, Osuala Nwafbara, Z.S. Makinde, and Peter Taiwo represented the defence.
The EFCC revealed that the group was part of a vast international syndicate known as “HK,” which operated romance and investment scams across platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and the fake site www.yooto.com. Victims were lured from countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and several European nations.
Authorities reported the syndicate used over 1,500 laptops and 4,000 phones to execute scams and trained Nigerian and foreign youths at the Victoria Island headquarters, which was disguised as a corporate finance hub.
The company Genting International Co. Ltd. was said to have hired 200 Chinese nationals to recruit and manage scam operations. One of the convicted defendants allegedly had over N3.4 billion in their account from fraudulent activities.
Under the plea deal, the convicts will serve one year from the date of their arrest on December 10, 2024. Each must also pay a N1 million fine and will be deported within seven days of completing their sentence and settling the fine.
The court also ordered all electronic devices and related equipment used in the scam to be forfeited to the Nigerian government.
