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The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, secured the conviction and sentencing of five Chinese nationals for cyberterrorism and internet fraud before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicted individuals are Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), Yang Shumei, Guo Zhi Yong, Zhang Gia Feng, and Lu Yi Liang.
They were among a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters arrested during a sting operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by EFCC operatives on December 19, 2024, in Lagos.
The defendants were arraigned on separate charges bordering on cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Guo Qiang (aka Wu You You), sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully caused to be accessed a computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).”
The defendants initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but later changed their plea to guilty during Tuesday’s proceedings.
Following their change of plea, the prosecution counsel, U.S. Kyari, urged the court to convict them as charged.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced each defendant to one year in prison with an option of a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).
The court also ordered that upon completion of their sentences, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) should ensure their repatriation to China within seven days.
