By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, fixed July 2 for the trial of 109 foreigners, over alleged involvement in high-level cybercrime and hacking activities said to be threatening the nation?s security.

The matter could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, in court.

The judge was said to be on another official engagement.

The case was the only matter on the day?s cause list.

The court subsequently fixed July 2 and July 3 for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Akpan had, on Nov. 29, 2024, admitted the foreigners to a N1 billion bail with five suites.

The judge, who granted them bail, directed that the five sureties must have a landed property worth N200, 000 million each.

Justice Akpan directed that the sureties must deposit the original and verified documents of their landed property with the deputy registrar of the court.

The judge also directed the sureties to deposit their international passports.

While the male defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, the court held that the female defendants should be kept at Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State pending the perfection of their bail terms.

The defendants, who were arraigned on a six-count charge, all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The foreigners are said to be citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar.

They were, in 2024, arrested by the police.

They were apprehended in their residence at Plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime by allegedly promoting ?a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.?

In a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 filed in the name of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria.

NAN reports that in one of the counts, they were alleged to have aided, abetted, conspired among themselves ?to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime.?

They were said to have committed the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).

They were also alleged to have accessed a computer, network and input with the intention that such inauthentic data will be considered or acted upon as If they were authentic or genuine.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).

Again, they were alleged to have removed ?from Nigeria proceeds generated from operating a fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms.

?These platforms are 9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and you thereby commit money laundering, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.?

The defendants were also accused of entering ?the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days duration and failed to leave the Nigerian territory at the expiration of the said permit.

The offence is contrary to Section 4 (2) and punishable under Section 44 (1) ? of the Immigration Act 2015.? (NAN)

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