In a major victory against transnational cybercrime, Nigerian authorities have begun the deportation of 42 foreign nationals convicted of running a massive cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme.
The group, part of a larger syndicate of 192 Chinese and Philippine nationals, was flown out of the country on Sunday, with more deportations scheduled over the next two days.
The deportations mark the culmination of a large-scale operation that began on 10 December 2024, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies raided a business complex on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The raid led to the arrest of 759 people and uncovered a sophisticated network of criminals operating a large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme.
According to the EFCC, which handled the prosecution, the syndicate employed a variety of fraudulent tactics to deceive victims, including the use of fake online identities and training employees in deceptive practices.
The charges against them highlighted serious crimes that, in the words of the EFCC, “undermine Nigeria’s security and financial integrity.”
The convicts were found guilty of multiple offences under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The deportation process is being managed by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), which took custody of the convicts after their sentences were handed down.
The first batch of 42 individuals departed Nigeria at 2:00 p.m. local time today, with a further 150 individuals to be deported on Monday and Tuesday.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, hailed the convictions and subsequent deportations as a significant achievement in the country’s ongoing war against cybercrime and financial fraud.
“This is a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime and financial fraud,” Olukoyede stated, adding that the Commission remains committed to its mandate of investigating financial crimes, recovering stolen funds, and restoring national dignity.
The EFCC’s efforts, he noted, are in line with the anti-corruption agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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