The Nigeria Immigration Service commenced the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals Sunday following their conviction for cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences.
The deportees, representing the first batch of 192 convicted foreigners, departed Nigeria Sunday afternoon as part of a phased repatriation exercise that will continue through Tuesday.
These individuals were among 759 suspects arrested during a major security operation on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, in what authorities describe as one of Nigeria’s most extensive anti-cybercrime raids.
The Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed that additional batches of convicted foreigners will be airlifted to their home countries on Monday and Tuesday, completing the deportation of all 192 individuals found guilty in connection with the fraudulent operations.
The criminal syndicate had been operating large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi schemes before security agencies dismantled their operations in the December raid.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which prosecuted the cases, revealed that charges against the convicted foreigners included using fake online identities to defraud victims, training staff of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and other violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the deportations as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to intensifying investigations and recovering looted funds.
“This represents a major achievement in Nigeria’s anti-corruption war,” Olukoyede stated, reiterating the agency’s resolve to restore national dignity in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption initiatives.
The December 2024 operation, which netted over 700 suspects, stands as one of the most comprehensive crackdowns on transnational financial crimes in Nigeria’s history.
The systematic deportation of convicted foreign nationals demonstrates Nigeria’s determination to combat international cybercrime networks operating within its borders while sending a strong message to potential offenders about the consequences of financial crimes in the country.
