EFCC, Immigration Deport 42 Convicted Chinese Cybercrime Offenders

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has commenced the deportation of foreign nationals convicted for cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences.

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the first batch of 42 deportees—comprising Chinese and Philippine nationals—were repatriated from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

They were part of 192 foreigners convicted by the Federal High Court, Lagos, following their arrest in a major raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island.

The EFCC confirmed that the remaining convicts will be deported in batches on Monday and Tuesday, with all deportees handed over to the NIS for processing.

The syndicate was involved in large-scale cyber fraud, including identity theft, online scams, and operating a Ponzi scheme through Genting International Co. Limited.

Charges against them included violations of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Following a plea bargain agreement, the court sentenced them to jail terms before ordering their deportation.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede hailed the convictions and deportations as a significant victory in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to recovering illicit funds and upholding national security under President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.

The December 2024 raid, one of Nigeria’s largest anti-cybercrime operations, underscores the government’s intensified crackdown on transnational financial crimes. Authorities have warned that more arrests and prosecutions are expected as investigations continue.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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