20 Foreign Nationals Arrested by EFCC for Alleged Cybercrime and Plot to Destabilize Nigeria
Twenty foreign nationals were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Federal High Court Judge Musa Kakaki in Lagos Wednesday on charges of cybercrime and attempts to undermine Nigeria’s social and economic order.
The defendants include 15 Filipinos, one Indonesian, and four Chinese nationals.
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 are a few examples of the defendants.
When the case was called, prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha requested that the charges be read so the defendants could enter their pleas. After the charges were read, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Ukoha also requested that a plea of not guilty be entered for Genting International C.O. Limited, a corporate entity linked to the charges. Since the company was not represented in court, Ukoha emphasized this as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). The prosecution further requested the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial. Defendants’ counsel, Bridget Omoteno and B.A. Ukpai, opposed the remand request.
They asked the court for a short adjournment to allow the defendants to explore the possibility of a plea bargain with the prosecution. After considering the arguments, Justice Kakaki granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service custody until the trial. The judge adjourned the case till March 18 and 20, 2025, for trial. The separate two-count charges against the defendants include: That the defendants and Genting International C.O. Limited, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully accessed computer systems organized to seriously
undermine Nigeria’s social and economic structure by encouraging young Nigerians to steal identities and pretend to be foreigners in order to profit.
“Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) prohibit and punish this act.”
Furthermore, the defendants are charged with violating Sections 22(2)(b) and 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 by allegedly fraudulently impersonating others in December 2024 within the Honourable Court’s jurisdiction in order to benefit financially for their employer.
