By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted 21 foreign hackers and ordered each of them to pay the sum of N1 million each.

Justice Ekerete Akpan?s ruling followed the convicts? plea bargain deal with the Nigerian Police Force, the prosecuting agency.

The 21 foreigners were part of the 109 defendants currently being prosecuted by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police on allegations bordering on high-level cybercrime, money laundering and activities threatening national security.

Justice Akpan also ordered the convicts to leave the shores of Nigeria within six days of the ruling.

The judge ordered that all the gadgets used in the commission of the crimes shall be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The affected 21 defendants include Yang Yang (M), 33 years; Li Xiao Fen (M), 41 years; Zheng Peng Zhan (M), 28; Shu Huan (M), 20; Jupanpan (M), 25; Feng Guo (M), 29; Zhao Yifan (M), 31; Mahunan (M), 26; Wang Yi Bo (M), 24; Chen Yan Qi (M), 26 and Shi Hao Jie (M), 28 years, who were represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.

Julius Mba appeared for Xiejang Bing (M), 29 years; Zheng Jian Feng (M); Zheng Peng Fei (M), 32; Wei Tang (M), 32; Wang Hao (M), 27; Cheng Xing (M), 30; Yang Xu Gung (M), 27; Zhu Jiu Hui (M), 28; Xhou Kia Lai (M), 28 and Tue Xue Fie (F), 21.

Ikpeazu had announced appearance for 3rd, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 24th, 50th, 53rd and 56th defendants, while Mba appeared for the 10th , 37th, 45th, 48th, 49th, 51st, 54th, 55th, 57th and 59th defendants respectively.

The lead prosecuting lawyer was A.A. Egwu.

Delivering the ruling, the judge said: ?after the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.?

He held that the sentence shall be based on the parties? agreement of N1 million fine each, against each of the defendants which shall be paid before their release.

?They shall depart the country within six working days,? he declared.

When the judge asked the lawyers if the convicts had paid the N1 million, Ikpeazu said: ?My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.?

Justice Akpan then adjourned the matter until Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 for continuation of trial of the remaining defendants.

The I-G had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024, sued the 109 foreigners and were arraigned on six counts.

The defendants, who include nationals from China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, had pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in correctional centres.

Justice Akpan had, on Nov. 29, 2024, admitted them to a N1 billion bail with five sureties each.

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 had met their bail terms, 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 the six-count charge, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria, etc.

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

They were alleged 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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