The defendants are; Zhao Xiang Hui, Liu Hai Rong, Liu Gang, Du JI Geng Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng and Deng Wei Qiang.Â
Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos State, on Thursday, sentenced nine Chinese Nationals including two females to one year imprisonment each and a fine of N1million for eonomic sabotage and financial terrorism.
The defendants are; Zhao Xiang Hui, Liu Hai Rong, Liu Gang, Du JI Geng Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng and Deng Wei Qiang
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, had on the 10th of December, 2024, stormed a sixth floor building located in Oyin Jolayemi area of Lagos where over 700 people were arrested for offences bordering on cyber terrorism and economic sabotage
When the matter came up for trial on Thursday, the EFCC’s counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, informed the court that the defendants opted for plea bargain arrangements which the Commission had found worthy.
Defence counsel, Mr Folarin Damela, also confirmed the EFCC’s position and urged the court to accept the plea bargain.
Consequently the charge was read and all the defendants pleaded guilty to same. The defendants also admitted that they freely consented to and signed the plea bargain agreement.
Following the guilty plea of the defendants, the prosecutor, Nnemeka Omewa, asked the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the plea bargain agreement .
In the absence of any objection to the prosecutor’s request, Justice Daniel Osiagor convicted and sentenced the defendants in line with the plea bargain agreement.
According to justice Osiagor, the defendants are sentenced to one year imprisonment each, commencing from the 10th of December, 2024, with the payment of N1million.
The court also ordered that upon the completion of the prison term, the Nigerian Immigration Service shall repatriate the convicts to their country of origin.
Justice Daniel Osiagor also ordered that all the items found on the convicts including furniture, computer gadgets laptops should be forfeited to the Nigerian government.
The one count amended charge against the defendants reads: “That sometimes in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the convicts willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria
when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantages for themselves and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3) (d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022″.
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