{"id":116112,"date":"2025-08-05T13:49:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/?p=116112"},"modified":"2025-08-05T13:49:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:49:26","slug":"foreign-hackers-hit-with-%e2%82%a61m-fines-told-to-leave-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/2025\/08\/05\/foreign-hackers-hit-with-%e2%82%a61m-fines-told-to-leave-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign Hackers Hit With \u20a61M Fines, Told To Leave Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 21 foreign nationals in connection with cybercrime<\/a> offences, imposing a fine of one million Naira on each individual.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The convictions followed a plea bargain arrangement negotiated between the defendants and the Nigeria Police Force. In delivering the ruling, Justice Akpan instructed that all convicts must leave the country within six working days. The court clarified that the sentencing terms were consistent with the conditions outlined in the plea agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sentence shall be based on the parties\u2019 agreement of \u20a61 million fine each, against each of the defendants, which shall be paid before their release. They shall depart the country within six working days,\u201d the judge held.<\/p>\n

Justice Akpan also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.<\/p>\n

The 21 convicts are among\u00a0109 foreign nationals\u00a0being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed threats to Nigeria\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n

The defendants, from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.<\/p>\n

\n

Read also: NCC Alerts Nigerians On New Ways Hackers Unlock, Steal Cars<\/a><\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres, pending fulfillment of stringent bail conditions set on November 29, 2024, which included \u20a61 billion bail and five sureties with \u20a6200 million worth of landed property each.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
Some of the suspects in court<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The police alleged that the accused operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.<\/p>\n

The 21 convicted individuals are Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Jupanpan (25), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), Mahunan (26), Wang Yi Bo (24), Chen Yan Qi (26), and Shi Hao Jie (28), all represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.<\/p>\n

Others are Xiejang Bing (29), Zheng Jian Feng, Zheng Peng Fei (32), Wei Tang (32), Wang Hao (27), Cheng Xing (30), Yang Xu Gung (27), Zhu Jiu Hui (28), Xhou Kia Lai (28), and Tue Xue Fie (21, female), represented by Julius Mba.<\/p>\n

The convicted individuals had been facing multiple charges, including unlawful access to computer systems and the manipulation of digital data\u2014offences classified under Section 13 of Nigeria\u2019s Cybercrimes Act.<\/p>\n

In addition to the cybercrime allegations, they were accused of concealing and moving illicit funds obtained through fraudulent online platforms, in breach of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.<\/p>\n

Authorities also charged the group with violating immigration laws, having exceeded the 30-day limit on their business visas\u2014an offence under Section 44(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, 2015. The court has scheduled the continuation of proceedings involving the remaining 88 defendants for October 22 and 23.<\/p>\n

Africa Today News, New York<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 21 foreign nationals in connection with cybercrime offences, imposing a fine of one million Naira on each individual. The convictions followed a plea bargain arrangement negotiated between the defendants and the Nigeria Police Force. In delivering the ruling, Justice Akpan instructed that all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":116113,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6928],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nForeign Hackers Hit With \u20a61M Fines, Told To Leave Nigeria<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 21 foreign nationals in connection with cybercrime offences,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/africatodaynewsnewyork.com\/2025\/08\/05\/foreign-hackers-hit-with-\u20a61m-fines-told-to-leave-nigeria\/\" \/>\n<meta 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