18 Foreign Nationals Convicted for Cyberterrorism in Lagos
The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced 18 foreign nationals for cyberterrorism and large-scale internet fraud targeting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The convictions were delivered over two days June 19 and 20, 2025 by Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke, Ayokunle Faji, and Yellim Bogoro of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Breakdown of Convicted Nationals
Chinese Nationals (15):
Peng Li Huan, Zhang Jin Rong, He Kun, Guo Long Long, Zhang Hua Zhai, Lin Hao Bo, Chen Fusheng, Chen Dong Dong, Wang Gong Lin, Pan Cai Yu, Huang Ren Jian, Zhang Xiao Lei, Chen Yuan, Wu Yong An, and Chen Xin.
Filipinos (2):
Rachelle Cabalona and Caselyn Pionela.
Pakistani (1):
Khurram Shahzad.
Cybercrime Charges and Guilty Pleas
All 18 individuals were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyberterrorism, identity theft, and internet fraud. The offences were described as part of a coordinated effort to destabilize Nigeria’s economy and social systems.
One of the charges against Filipino national Caselyn Pionela stated:
“You… willfully caused access to computer systems organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft…”
All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
EFCC Prosecutors Demand Forfeiture and Conviction
EFCC prosecutors Spiff Owede, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, Chinenye Okezie, Ebuka Okongwu, B.M. Isah, and Nambam Mutfwang requested immediate convictions and the forfeiture of all digital and physical exhibits recovered during the investigation.
Court Sentences and Deportation Orders
Following their guilty pleas, the court:
Sentenced each convict to one year in prison
Gave each convict an option of a ₦1,000,000 fine
Ordered forfeiture of all recovered items to the Federal Government of Nigeria
Directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deport all convicts within seven days of completing their sentences.
EFCC’s Crackdown on Transnational Cybercrime
According to the EFCC, these 18 convicts are among the 792 individuals arrested in an ongoing nationwide clampdown targeting cyberterrorism and transnational fraud networks.
The EFCC emphasized that the case is one of the largest coordinated convictions of foreign nationals for cyberterrorism in Nigeria’s judicial history.
EFCC Urges Vigilance
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s digital space and urged citizens to report all suspicious cyber activities through official communication channels.
