A Lagos court has ordered the deportation of four Filipinos convicted of cyberterrorism and internet fraud. Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, handed down the sentence, directing the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service to deport the convicts within seven days of completing their sentences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the ruling in a Friday statement, revealing that the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 also secured convictions and sentences for seven Nigerians on similar charges. The Filipino nationals sentenced are Reyna Mae Eriba, Chyna Samonte, Zara Fabian, and Dominique Medina.
The Nigerian convicts include Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, and Oghomienor Jotham. They faced separate charges related to cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
Among the allegations, Chyna Samonte was accused of orchestrating the use of Nigerian youths for identity theft and posing as foreigners to gain financial advantage, an act punishable under the Cybercrimes Act and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act. Chidera Ezechukwu was charged with retaining over ₦12 million suspected to be proceeds from an online dating scam, violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
All defendants pleaded guilty, prompting prosecution counsel to seek their conviction and forfeiture of all recovered items to the federal government. Justice Bogoro sentenced the Filipino nationals to one year imprisonment or a ₦1 million fine each. Gbenga Shittu Solomon received a one-year jail term or ₦700,000 fine, while the other Nigerian convicts were sentenced to one year or a ₦500,000 fine each.
The court also ordered that all confiscated assets, including vehicles, communication devices, and money, be forfeited to the federal government.
