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In a significant development in Nigeria’s fight against transnational cybercrime, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria on Friday, July 4, 2025, convicted and sentenced eight Chinese nationals to jail for cyberterrorism and internet fraud. This judgment marks a pivotal moment in the country’s recent prosecutions targeting international cybercrime networks. Justice Aneke found the defendants guilty of orchestrating extensive online fraud schemes that preyed on unsuspecting victims across multiple countries.
The convicted individuals in this particular case are identified as Pan Cai Qi, Zeng Xian Tao, Weng Mao Rong, Wang Xiong Wei (also known as Xiao Bai), Shi Dong Fu, Wang Shi Long, Liu Ke Fan, and Ting Liao. They were apprehended during a coordinated sting operation on December 19, 2024, dubbed “Eagle Flush Operation,” led by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, these eight Chinese nationals were part of a much larger 792-member international fraud syndicate uncovered during the operation. This syndicate was involved in a complex web of illicit activities, including cryptocurrency investment scams, romance frauds, and identity theft schemes, all executed through sophisticated digital infrastructure.
This recent conviction follows a series of successful prosecutions in Nigerian courts targeting members of this vast syndicate. As reported by SaharaReporters in May 2025, the court had already convicted 11 Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian, sentencing them to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. These individuals included Winnie De Jesus, Kayceelynn Remorin, Irish Chna, Darwisa Esmael, Kimberly Nisperos, Savien Cire Renovilla, Zeng Zerong, Guo Bin, Jessa Sanchi, Jhena Sarmiento, Rain Torida, Rex Jose Dilag (aka Madison), Tan Soon Kar, Fernando Fu Fang, and Beverlyin Gumayo (aka Veb Sumayo).
Further convictions came on June 5, when Justice Daniel Osiagor convicted and sentenced nine more Chinese nationals, including two females, to one year imprisonment and a N1 million fine each, for economic sabotage and financial terrorism. This group from the 792-member syndicate included Zhao Xiang Hui, Liu Hai Rong, Liu Gang, Du JI Geng, Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, and Deng Wei Qiang.
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On June 10, Justice Osiagor again convicted and sentenced another nine Chinese nationals from the same arrested syndicate to one-year imprisonment each for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The individuals were Li Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng.
Continuing the crackdown, on June 21, Justices Aneke, Ayokunle Faji, and Yellim Bogoro convicted and sentenced 18 foreign nationals for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. This group comprised 15 Chinese nationals (Peng Li Huan, Zhang Jin Rong, He Kun, Guo Long Long, Zhang Hua Zhai, Lin Hao Bo, Chen Fusheng, Chen Dong Dong, Wang Gong Lin, Pan Cai Yu, Huang Ren Jian, Zhang Xiao Lei, Chen Yuan, Wu Yong An, and Chen Xin), two Filipinos (Rachelle Cabalona and Caselyn Pionela), and one Pakistani (Khurram Shahzad).
Most recently, on June 27, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced another 14 Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud. This latest group included Su Zong Gen, Li Zhong Chang, Chen Gui Ping, Li Xiang Long, San Feng Zhang, Jia Yang, Jia Zhi Hao, Liu Chuang, Yu Hai Ging, Zhao Xiao Liang, Dai Li, Tao Kun, Mao Bu Yi, and Zhao Zi Cheng, underscoring Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to dismantle these sophisticated cybercrime networks.
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