The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 20 foreign nationals before the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged cybercrime and attempts to destabilise Nigeria’s social and economic structure.
The accused include 15 Filipinos, one Indonesian, and four Chinese nationals. They were brought before Justice Musa Kakaki on Thursday following their arrest in December 2024, during a large-scale operation by the EFCC. The raid, carried out at the Big Leaf Building in Victoria Island, Lagos, resulted in the detention of 193 foreign nationals and 599 Nigerians suspected of involvement in cyber-related crimes.
During the court proceedings, EFCC counsel Nwandu Ukoha requested that the charges against the defendants be read in court so they could formally enter their pleas. With the aid of an interpreter, each of the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC subsequently applied for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial. However, their legal representatives, Bridget Omoteno and B.A. Ukpai, opposed the request. The defence lawyers urged the court to grant a short adjournment to allow their clients to explore the possibility of a plea bargain with the prosecution.
After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Kakaki ruled in favour of the prosecution and ordered that the defendants be remanded in correctional custody. The judge then adjourned the case to 18th and 20th March 2025 for trial.
According to the charges filed by the EFCC, the defendants, along with their employer, Genting International Co. Limited, were involved in cyber activities aimed at seriously disrupting Nigeria’s economic and social structure. The prosecution alleges that they employed and manipulated Nigerian youths to engage in identity theft, posing as foreign nationals to gain financial advantages.
The offences, the EFCC claims, violate Sections 18, 22(2)(b), and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024). If found guilty, the accused individuals could face significant penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines.
The Nigerian government has intensified its crackdown on cyber-related crimes, particularly in the wake of increasing fraudulent activities that tarnish the country’s reputation. The EFCC has vowed to continue its efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks and ensure justice is served.
Observers will be closely watching the case as it unfolds, especially considering the international dimension of the prosecution and its potential diplomatic implications.