ABUJA — A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted 21 foreign nationals for their involvement in high-level cybercrime, slamming each with a ₦1 million fine and ordering their deportation within six working days.
Presiding judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, delivered the verdict on Monday, following a plea bargain agreement between the convicts and the Nigeria Police Force.
“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged,” Justice Akpan ruled.
He further stated that the sentence aligns with the terms of the plea bargain, mandating each convict to pay a ₦1 million fine before release and immediate departure from Nigeria within six working days.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all electronic gadgets used in committing the cybercrimes to the Federal Government.
The 21 convicts are part of a larger group of 109 foreign nationals currently being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over alleged cybercrime, money laundering, and threats to Nigeria’s national security.
DAILY POST gathered that the convicted individuals hail from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, and were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.
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