The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences, marking the first batch in a total of 192 convicts slated for removal.
The initial group is scheduled to depart Nigeria on Sunday afternoon, following their conviction in connection to a major raid carried out on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The December operation, which was one of the largest anti-cybercrime raids in the country, resulted in the arrest of 759 suspects. The syndicate, comprised mainly of Chinese and Philippine nationals, had been running a large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme, defrauding victims both in Nigeria and abroad.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led the prosecution, a total of 192 foreigners were convicted on charges including the use of fake online identities, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and various offences under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The NIS has confirmed that additional batches of deportees will be airlifted on Monday and Tuesday, bringing the repatriation process to completion. All convicts have already been transferred to the Immigration Service for onward deportation to their respective countries.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede hailed the convictions and deportations as a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime and financial fraud, affirming the Commission’s commitment to intensifying investigations, recovering stolen funds, and restoring national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive.
The December raid, which resulted in dozens of convictions, is regarded as a turning point in Nigeria’s crackdown on transnational financial crimes.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
