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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the remand of 109 foreigners at the Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centers over cybercrime allegations.
The defendants, who were identified as nationals of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, are facing a six-count indictment filed against them by the Cybercrime Unit of the Nigerian Police Force.
Justice Ekerete Akpan made the order following a request by one of the counsel, James Onoja, for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to properly reflect the names of the defendants on the charge sheet.
They were apprehended at their residence at Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they allegedly engaged in cybercrime by allegedly promoting “a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”
In a six-count indictment marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024 filed by the Inspector General of Police, the foreigners were accused of cybercrime, money laundering and unlawfully staying in Nigeria.
The court then adjourned the matter to next Friday to enter the suspects’ plea on the charges.
During Friday’s proceedings, Onoja noted that some of the names given to the defendants were not their proper names.
“Your Honor, I believe it behooves the defendants to provide their travel documents so that their proper names are included on the charge sheet.
“We believe that the arraignment this morning cannot take place as planned. This application has been made in good faith and we urge my lord to grant it,” the counsel said.
The prosecutor, Mr AA Egwu, opposed the request for adjournment but he drew the attention of the court to an ex-parte motion he filed seeking remand of the defendants at a correctional center pending their arraignment.
“My lord, we are overwhelmed right now. We do not have the ability to detain all defendants. The learned side representing the defendants can confirm this. Our operation has been halted,” Egwu pleaded.
Confirming the development, Onoja said: “I went there yesterday and my lord, I saw them (defendants) sitting everywhere under the stairs.
“It wasn’t healthy at all. They (the police) do not have the capacity for the large number of people I saw there yesterday,” he added.
Judge Akpan adjourned the case to allow the defendants to produce their travel documents so that they could be properly reflected in the charge sheet.
The judge subsequently remanded the male defendants to Kuje Prison, Abuja, while ordering that the women among them be held at Suleja Prison, Niger State, pending their arraignment on November 29.
Five Brazilians among the defendants had pleaded to be remanded in custody and tried differently than others
The accused Brazilians, Lucas Costa Da Silver, Renan Ricardo Souza Rocha, Nelson Rocha Cardoso Neto, Rhuan Filippe Albuqverque Le Lonnes and Aguiar Rodrigues Djeanne, cited security concerns regarding the request.
Counsel for the Brazilians, Mr Eric Oba, told the court that his clients had made extrajudicial statements to the police that their co-defendants were unhappy with.
“The other defendants developed bad feelings towards them after the statements. My clients fear for their safety and would like to remain in the police station,” Oba added.
While adjourning the case, Judge Akpan instructed the Brazilians’ counsel to file a formal request for the termination of the trial against his clients.
Police had alleged that the suspects conspired among themselves “to commit an offense viz; cybercrime and you have thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).”
It was also alleged that they “knowingly accessed a computer and a network and entered, modified, deleted or suppressed data resulting in inauthentic data with the intent that such inauthentic data would be considered or would be acted upon as if they were authentic or genuine and you thereby commit an offense contrary to and punishable under section 13 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).”
Police told the court that the 109 defendants “knowingly and without consent caused loss of property to persons in Nigeria and outside Nigeria” when they caused data entry and suppression by misleading people into believing they were an unregistered gambling platform. marketing, were authentic.
Police said the alleged deceptive action of the defendants was aimed at providing economic benefits to themselves, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc. ) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).
Moreso, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, with intent to defraud, “promoted, through electronic messages on the Internet, a fraudulent and unregistered gambling platform, materially misrepresenting the facts about the said fraudulent gambling platform relied upon by people in Nigeria and outside Nigeria suggested. has suffered enormous economic loss and thereby commits an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).”
They are also said to have removed from Nigeria “the proceeds generated by operating fraudulent and unregistered gambling platforms, namely: 9f.com, c2.top, 8pg.top and you thereby commit money laundering, in violation of and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Similarly, the defendants were charged with entering “the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a business permit of 30 days and failing or omitting to leave the Nigerian territory on the expiry of the said permit and remaining in Nigeria without a valid resident. you authorize or apply a valid visa and in so doing you are in breach of section 4(2) and punishable under section 44(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 2015.”
The defendants are: Hanfu E, Chen Slin, Yang Yang, Peng Guang, Yan ha Wen, Wang Shan, Jun, Wang Zhan, Hang G, U Xlao Fen, Xiegang Bing. Zheng Peng Zhan, closed.
Jupanpan, Wang Zha Zhou tong, Fens Guo, Lichang Miao, Huang Da Dian, His Ming, Li Fang, Zhao Vifan, Wu Chao, Cal Jun Ping. Wei Jun, Mahunan, Yeum Feng. Al tun, A Feng, Xiao Bei, Lin Wet lie, Yun Ha, li Fei, Xiao ling Qing. Ye Jun Shan, Sun Qang Qiang, Chen Ming lie, Chen lia lia, Zheng han Feng, Zhang Xiong Sheng, Niu Zhi, Chen Brao, Cuivi Fei, LIl Chang. Wang Shou Cheng, Hua lian Guo, Zheng Peng Fei, Ling Zhe Ming. Wang Xur Ze, Wei Tang, Wang Hao, Wang Y Bo, Cheng Xing, Wang Yong , Cheng Zeng Bin, (all Chinese nationals), Maydianto, Linda Wati (Indonesians), Dan The Anh, ChalTu Cuong, Nguyen Dac Duoc, Nguyen Thi Sen and Tran Van Khaih.
Others are: Nguyen Van Hal, Hoang Le Chien, Vu Xuan Hiep, Ngo Van Hung, Hoang Van Thanh, Nguyen Manh Duc, Tran Van Luc, Phan Duc Thien, Phan Viet Dung, Trieu Van Pu, Pham Thite Uyen, To A Si , Vi Phi Nghi, Dinh Thi Qynh, Sa Thi Gam, Pham Trong Thanu, Ho The Huong (Vietnam Citizens), Jay Mhar Avile Delos Reyes, John Mark Aviles Delos Reyes, Jeffery Ama, Asriya S. Ahmad, Charie Cervartes, Jamel Pabili Aviles, Airah Ivy Lacerna Defeo, Angelica Tayao Ama, Lovely Eidly Tayao Ama (Philippines), Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat Zie Ni, Laongdao Saeguang , Achalar Saeyang, Galin Suphaaut (Thailand citizens), See Yixiong, Loh Wai Fong, Lee Chee Hau (Malaysians), Wai Thon Tun and Khun Chan Min Paing See (Myanmar).
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