All 18 defendants were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyber terrorism, identity theft and large-scale internet fraud aimed at compromising Nigeria’s economic and social infrastructure.

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced 18 foreign nationals — including 15 Chinese, two Filipinos, and one Pakistani — for cyber terrorism and internet fraud. 

The ruling, which spanned two days, June 19 and 20, 2025, was delivered by Justices Chukwujekwu Aneke, Ayokunle Faji, and Yellim Bogoro of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

The convicted individuals include: 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.

"Filipinos: Rachelle Cabalona and Caselyn Pionela. Pakistani: Khurram Shahzad." 

All 18 defendants were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyber terrorism, identity theft and large-scale internet fraud aimed at compromising Nigeria’s economic and social infrastructure.

One of the charges against Filipino national Caselyn Pionela read: "That you, Caselyn Pionela, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused access to computer systems organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022."

Upon reading the charges, all 18 accused persons pleaded guilty. 

In response, EFCC prosecutors — Spiff Owede, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, Chinenye Okezie, Ebuka Okongwu, B.M. Isah, and Nambam Mutfwang — urged the court to convict the defendants and order the forfeiture of all exhibits recovered during investigations.

The judges subsequently found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to one year imprisonment each with an option of a fine of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira).

In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered that all items recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

Furthermore, the court directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure the deportation of all 18 foreign convicts within seven days of completing their sentences.

According to the EFCC, the convicts are among 792 suspects arrested in a massive crackdown on cyberterrorism networks operating within Nigeria. 

The operation is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational cybercrime syndicates exploiting Nigerian digital infrastructure and citizens.

This development marks one of the largest coordinated convictions of foreign nationals for cyberterrorism in Nigeria’s recent judicial history and reinforces the EFCC's commitment to protecting Nigeria’s digital space from international cybercriminals.

The EFCC urges the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious cyber-related activities through its official communication channels.