The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned 20 foreign nationals before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos for their alleged involvement in cybercrime and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s social and economic structure.
The defendants comprise 15 Filipinos, 1 Indonesian, and 4 Chinese nationals.
According to the EFCC, the suspects were arrested following intelligence reports linking them to cyber-related offenses that posed a threat to Nigeria’s digital and economic systems.
Some of the foreigners are Kayceelyn Remorin, Jonylyn Agulto, Donny Hermanto, Guo Bin, Darwa Esmael, Lari Jane Tayac, Jhena Samiento, Jessa Sai Chui, Rain Torida, Kimbaley Nisperos, Winnie De Jesus, Shairah May Reyes, Gladys Joy May Iba, Jean Calaga, Huo Wen Jie, Zhao Sui Tao, Gong An Penguna Yua and Anjeannet Topacio, among others.
When the matter was called, prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha prayed that the charges against the defendants be read so that they could take their plea.
Consequently, that charge was read and all the defendants in their separate charges pleaded not guilty to the same.
Ukoha then asked that the plea of not guilty be entered against the corporate person linked to the charge – Genting Internation C.O. Limited – which was not represented by any person, as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
The lawyer also pleaded with the court to remand the defendants in the custody of Nigeria Correctional Service, pending trial.
However, Counsel to the defendants Bridget Omoteno and B.A Ukpai opposed him.
They prayed to the court for a short adjournment to enable the defendants to explore the possibility of a plea bargain with the prosecution.
Justice Kakaki, after listening to the parties, granted the prosecutor’s prayer and remanded the defendants in the Nigerian Correctional Services’ custody pending trial.
The judge adjourned the case till the 18th and 20th of March 2025, for trial.
The separate two-count charges against the defendants read in part:
“That the defendants and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED on or about the 18th of December 2024 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court wilfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for themselves and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
The defendants were also alleged to have sometime in December 2024 In Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for their employer fraudulently impersonated and hold themselves out as such, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) and 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.