Court Fixes July 2 for Trial of 109 Foreigners Over Alleged Cybercrime, Hacking
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 2 and 3, 2025, for the trial of 109 foreign nationals accused of engaging in high-level cybercrime, money laundering, and immigration offences that reportedly threaten Nigeria’s national security.
The trial, which was to commence on Monday, could not proceed due to the absence of Justice Ekerete Akpan, who was said to be on official assignment.
The suspects — citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar — were arrested in 2024 by Nigerian police during a raid on Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they allegedly operated a fraudulent and unregistered online gaming platform.
In November 2024, Justice Akpan granted the defendants ₦1 billion bail with five sureties required to each own landed property valued at ₦200 million. The court also mandated that the sureties must submit their international passports and original property documents to the deputy registrar.
Pending the fulfillment of bail conditions, male defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, while the females were detained in Keffi Correctional Centre, Nasarawa State.
According to the six-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024), filed by the Inspector-General of Police, the foreigners are accused of:
- Aiding and conspiring to commit cybercrime, in violation of Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (Amended 2024)
- Illegally accessing computer networks and inputting false data, under Section 13 of the same Act
- Operating unregistered gambling platforms such as 9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and laundering the proceeds, violating Section 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2022
- Overstaying a 30-day business permit, contravening Sections 4(2) and 44(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 2015
All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
