A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 21 foreign nationals to pay fines of ₦1 million each for cybercrimes committed within Nigerian territory. The convicted individuals, who were found guilty of various online fraud and hacking activities, have also been ordered to be deported immediately after completing payment of their fines.
The court's ruling comes after a swift but detailed trial in which all 21 defendants pleaded guilty to charges ranging from illegal access to computer systems, identity theft, financial fraud, and violation of Nigeria’s Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Delivering judgment, Justice Adeniyi O. Adeyemi stated that the sentence serves as a deterrent to foreign nationals who may view Nigeria as a safe haven for cybercriminal operations. “Nigeria will not tolerate the violation of its cyber sovereignty. The judgment reinforces our zero-tolerance stance against all forms of cybercrime, regardless of nationality,” the judge said.
The suspects, who hail from multiple countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, were arrested in a coordinated sting operation carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in partnership with the Nigerian Immigration Service and international cybercrime units.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, welcomed the ruling, stating: “This verdict is a victory for Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture. It sends a clear message that no cybercriminal, local or foreign, will go unpunished.”
The Nigeria Immigration Service has confirmed it will immediately begin processing the deportation orders in line with national security protocols.