A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted another 59 foreign hackers, ordered each to either serve one year prison term or pay N1million fine.

Justice Ekerete Akpan, in a judgment on Tuesday, ordered the convicts’ deportation from Nigeria.

He also directed that all the gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge noted that “all the convicts, being first time offenders, expressed remorse for their actions.”

Justice Akpan said the judgment resulted from a plea bargain deal between the Nigerian Police Force (the prosecuting agency) and the convicts.

He adjourned till October 22 to determine the fate of the remaining 25.

Justice Akpan’s latest judgment is coming about two months after 21 of the 109 suspected foreign hackers were convicted for the same offence after they opted for a plea bargain agreement.

The 59 convicts were part of the 84 defendants remaining from the total of 109 facing trial after about 21 were recently convicted and deported from the country.

The police had, following their arrest in Abuja, filed a six-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 against the 109 foreigners.

They were arrested 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.”

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

In the six-count charge, the foreigners were charged with cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully residing in Nigeria, etc.

In one of the counts in the charge sheet, 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 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) (c) of the Immigration Act 2015.” (The Nation)