EFCC
By Abayomi Grace
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Immigration Service have deported 42 convicted foreign cybercriminals, with 150 more expected to follow. The deportees, comprising Chinese and Philippine nationals, were part of a larger group of 759 suspects arrested in December 2024 for operating a large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme.
The EFCC had prosecuted the cases, securing convictions for 192 foreigners who were found guilty of serious crimes aimed at undermining Nigeria’s security and financial integrity. The charges included allegations of using fake identities online to defraud victims, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and other offenses under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the convictions and deportations as a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime and financial fraud. He reiterated the Commission’s resolve to intensify investigations, recover looted funds, and restore national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive.
The first batch of deportees left Nigeria on Sunday, August 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. local time, while the remaining convicts will be airlifted to their home countries on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. All the convicts have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for deportation .
The EFCC’s efforts to combat cybercrime have led to significant arrests and convictions, marking a major breakthrough in the country’s fight against financial crimes. The December raid, considered one of the largest anti-cybercrime operations in Nigeria, marked a turning point in the country’s crackdown on transnational financial crimes.
