The Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced 12 foreign nationals following their guilty pleas to charges relating to cybercrime offences.
The judgment was delivered on Friday, 23 May 2025, by Yellim Bogoro, in proceedings instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
Court records show that the defendants entered guilty pleas to separate charges brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended), the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The pleas followed plea bargain agreements reached with the prosecution.
Upon the guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions. There was no opposition recorded following the entry of the pleas.
In his ruling, Justice Bogoro convicted each of the 12 defendants and sentenced them to one year’s imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₦1 million on each defendant and ordered the forfeiture of electronic devices recovered during the investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court further directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure the deportation of the convicts to their country of origin within seven days after the completion of their respective prison terms.
What Next:
– Convicts to serve custodial sentences and pay fines as ordered by the court.
– Forfeited items to be transferred to the Federal Government.
– Deportation to be effected within seven days after completion of prison terms.
