Justices D.I. Dipeolu and A.O. Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, have convicted and sentenced six Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicts, JIA You (alias A. You), Wang Zheng Feng (alias Feng), Liu San Hua, Chen Wen Yuan, Liu Beixing, and Wen Zong Xu (alias Li Long) were part of a wider syndicate of 792 suspects arrested in a massive sting operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos on December 19, 2024. The operation targeted individuals involved in cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud.
They were arraigned in February 2025 on separate count charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, brought before the court by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC. Initially, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. However, during court proceedings held on Monday, June 23, 2025, they reversed their pleas to “guilty.”
Following their change of plea, prosecution counsel Babatunde Sonoiki, U.S. Kyari, and B.M. Isah prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. The court upheld the prosecution’s request and sentenced each of the convicts to one year imprisonment, backdated to their arrest date — December 10, 2024. In addition, each defendant was fined ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira).
Furthermore, the court ordered that all items recovered at the time of arrest including mobile phones, laptops, computers, and routers be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Upon completion of their prison term, the Comptroller General of Immigration is directed to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their home country within seven days.
