In a landmark ruling, two Federal High Court judges, Justice Yellin Bogoro and Justice Alexander Owoeye, handed down one-year prison sentences to 15 foreign nationals involved in cyber fraud and cyber-terrorism activities across Lagos.
The convicts include 11 Filipinos—Winnie De Jesus, Kayceelynn Remorin, Irish Chna, Darwisa Esmael, Kimberly Nisperos, Savien Cire Renovilla, Jessa Sanchi, Jhena Sarmiento, Rain Torida, Rex Jose Dilag (aka Madison), and Beverlyin Gumayo (aka Veb Sumayo). Also convicted were two Chinese nationals, Zeng Zerong and Guo Bin; one Malaysian, Tan Soon Kar; and an Indonesian, Fernando Fu Fang.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the group with cyber offenses committed in Lagos during December 2024, including possession of forged documents and orchestrating complex online scams.
Winnie De Jesus and a company named Genting International Co. Ltd were found to have gained unauthorized access to computer systems aimed at destabilizing Nigeria’s economic and social framework. Additionally, De Jesus was implicated in recruiting Nigerian youths to impersonate foreigners online, facilitating identity theft and financial scams.
Similarly, Kayceelynn Remorin, working with the same company, was accused of training local youths to engage in fraudulent online impersonations. Remorin also used a false identity, posing as Anastacia Lim, to facilitate illicit monetary transactions.
These activities violated provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act (2015, amended 2024) and the Terrorism Prevention Act (2022), according to the EFCC.
All defendants pleaded guilty and accepted plea bargains. Prosecutors N.K. Ukoha, T.J. Banjo, and N.C. Mutfwang urged the court to enforce sentences based on these agreements.
The judges sentenced each convict to a one-year jail term, with an alternative option to pay a fine of N1 million in lieu of imprisonment. Furthermore, the court directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deport all the convicts to their respective countries within seven days of completing their sentences or settling their fines.
In a bid to curb further cybercrime, all electronic devices seized from the suspects have been confiscated and handed over to the Nigerian government.
This verdict sends a clear message that Nigeria is intensifying its fight against cybercrime, especially those perpetrated by foreign nationals operating within its borders.
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