Twenty Foreign Nationals Face Charges for Cybercr#me Activities in Lagos
Twenty foreign people have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with cybercri%e and attempts to destabilise Nigeria’s social and economic order at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
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On Thursday, the defendants—four Chinese, one Indonesian, and fifteen Filipinos—were presented to Justice Musa Kakaki.
Their arraignment comes after the EFCC, acting on reliable intelligence, arrested 599 Nigerians and 193 international nationals at the Big Leaf Building in Victoria Island, Lagos, in December 2024.
Through an interpreter, all of the defendants pleaded not guiltywhen EFCC attorney Nwandu Ukoha asked that the charges be read to them during the court session.
After that, Ukoha asked the court to remand them to the Nigeria Correctional Service’s custody as they await trial.
The request was resisted by defence lawyers Bridget Omoteno and B.A. Ukpai, who requested a brief postponement to consider the prospect of reaching a plea agreement with the prosecution.
Justice Kakaki, however, granted the EFCC’s request and mandated the defendants’ remand. March 18 and 20 have been set aside for the trial.
Kayceelyn Remorin, Jonylyn Agulto, Donny Hermanto, Guo Bin, Darwa Esmael, Lari Jane Tayac, Jhena Samiento, Jessa Sai Chui, Rain Torida, Kimbaley Nisperos, Winnie De Jesus, Shairah May Reyes, Gladys Joy May Iba, Jean Calaga, Huo Wen Jie, Zhao Sui Tao, Gong An Penguna Yua, and Anjeannet Topacio are among those who were arraigned.
