🇳🇬 Cybercrime Crackdown: Nigerian Court Convicts 21 Foreign Nationals, Orders Deportation Within 6 Days

In a major win for Nigeria’s cybersecurity and anti-money laundering efforts, a Federal High Court has convicted 21 foreign nationals and ordered their deportation following their role in an illegal gaming and cybercrime network.

Zig Diaries Justice 
Date: Tuesday, 5 August 2025
Time: 19:00 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria

In a landmark cybercrime case, Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced 21 foreign nationals to a fine of ₦1 million each and ordered their deportation from Nigeria within six working days. The ruling marks the first convictions in an ongoing prosecution of 109 foreign suspects linked to cybercrime, money laundering, and threats to national security.

The convicts, drawn from countries including China, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and the Philippines, were charged with unauthorised access to computer networks, falsifying digital data, and laundering proceeds through unregistered gaming platforms operated in Abuja.

“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged,” said Justice Akpan. “They shall depart the country within six working days.”

All electronic devices used to perpetrate the crimes were ordered forfeited to the Nigerian government.

International Cyber Syndicate Busted

The convicted individuals are part of a broader cybercriminal enterprise allegedly operating out of Plot 1906, Katampe District, Abuja, where they ran an unlicensed gaming platform targeting users online. Authorities allege the platform was used to launder illicit funds and bypass regulatory scrutiny.

Initially arraigned on a six-count charge in 2024, the suspects faced stringent bail conditions — including ₦1 billion in surety bonds and property guarantees — before eventually entering plea bargains.

Their crimes included:

·        Illegal access to computer systems and data tampering – under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

·        Money laundering – under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

·        Immigration violations, having overstayed their 30-day business visas – under Section 44 of the Immigration Act, 2015.

Ongoing Prosecution

The remaining 88 suspects from the same bust — also foreign nationals — will face trial on October 22 and 23, according to the Nigeria Police Force.

The convicts were represented in court by legal counsels Linda Ikpeazu and Julius Mba, while the Inspector-General of Police led the prosecution.

This development is part of a broader push by Nigerian authorities to clamp down on foreign-led digital crimes and assert control over its cyberspace, which is increasingly vulnerable to transnational fraud.

🏷️Tags: Cybercrime, Money Laundering, Nigeria Police, Immigration, Abuja Court
#CybercrimeNigeria #JusticeAkpan #DigitalFraud #ImmigrationNigeria #ZigDiariesJustice