Court Jails Seven Chinese Nationals for Cyberterrorism, Fraud in Major Ponzi Scheme

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A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced seven Chinese nationals to one year in prison each for cyberterrorism and internet fraud linked to a large-scale Ponzi scheme uncovered in December 2024.

The convicts—Peng Li Huan, Zhang Jin Rong, He Kun, Rachelle Cabalona, Caselyn Pionela, Guo Long Long, and Zhang Hua Zhai—were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a raid on a Lagos property on Oyin Jolayemi Street.

The operation resulted in over 700 arrests, marking one of Nigeria’s biggest cybercrime busts in recent years.

Arraigned before Justices Ayokunle Faji, Chukwujekwu Aneke, and Yellim Bogoro, the defendants faced amended one-count charges related to cyberterrorism and fraud.

Prosecutors Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, Chineye Okezie, and Banjo Temitop informed the court that the accused had entered into plea bargain agreements, formally filed on June 20, 2025.

All seven pleaded guilty, affirming their decisions were voluntary. The court sentenced them to one-year imprisonment and fined each N1 million.

Additionally, the judge ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to deport them within seven days of serving their terms.

The charges stated that the defendants deliberately hacked computer systems to recruit Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonation schemes, targeting foreign nationals for illegal financial gains.

Their actions violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC’s prosecution team emphasized that the case highlights Nigeria’s intensified crackdown on cybercrime and financial terrorism.

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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