Nine Chinese nationals sentenced in Lagos for cyber-terrorism linked to crypto and romance fraud.
EFCC’s sting operation led to their arrest; court orders deportation and device forfeiture.
Justice D.E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July 7, 2025, sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year in prison each after finding them guilty of cyber-terrorism and internet-related fraud.
The convicts Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (also known as Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, and Tan Ming were among a larger group of 792 suspects arrested in Lagos on December 19, 2024. Their arrest followed a coordinated sting operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) known as the “Eagle Flush Operation.” The operation targeted a syndicate believed to be involved in cryptocurrency investment scams and online romance fraud.
Following their arrest, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC brought cybercrime charges against the nine Chinese individuals. They were arraigned separately in February 2025 on a one-count charge related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
According to the EFCC, the charge stated:
“That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming, sometime in December, 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1)(b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.”
Initially, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, at their latest court appearance, they changed their plea to guilty.
In response to the new plea, the EFCC’s counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, urged the court to proceed with sentencing. Justice Osiagor convicted all nine defendants and sentenced them to one year imprisonment each, effective from the date of their arrest on December 10, 2024. Each convict was also fined N1 million.
The court further instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that the convicts are deported back to China within seven days. Additionally, all devices recovered during the arrest, including mobile phones, laptop computers, and routers, were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
