Just In: FG Orders Immediate Deportation of Over 40 Chinese, Philippine as Reason Emerge
- The FG ordered the immediate deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber fraud and Ponzi schemes
- Deportations are carried out in batches after a Lagos court sentenced each to one year imprisonment and ₦1 million fine
- EFCC revealed the syndicate trained Nigerians in online scams and seized digital assets, laptops, phones, and vehicles
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The federal government has issued an order for the immediate deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals.
The order came following their conviction for cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme offences.
Source: UGC
Immigration speaks on deportation in batches
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed that the deportees were handed over after the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced them to one year imprisonment each, in addition to a ₦1 million fine, under plea bargain agreements with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
As reported by Premium Times, a senior EFCC source, on Sunday, August 17, disclosed that the first batch of deportees left Lagos at 2:00 p.m. local time, while others are scheduled to depart on Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said in a statement:
“The deportation marks a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime. The Commission will continue to intensify investigations, recover stolen funds, and restore national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda."
EFCC: Syndicate ran large-scale Ponzi scheme
The syndicate was exposed during a December 2024 raid on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where 792 suspects, Nigerians, Chinese, Arabs, and Filipinos, were arrested.
Investigators revealed that the group operated through a Nigerian-registered company, Genting International Co. Limited, which received over ₦2.26 billion within eight months. Funds largely flowed through cryptocurrency vendors.
Earlier in July, a Federal High Court ordered the forfeiture of digital assets worth $222,729.86 (USDT) traced to some of the convicted Chinese nationals, Vanguard reported.
Foreign syndicate trained Nigerians in online scams
Source: Twitter
According to EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, the building used by the syndicate was disguised as a corporate facility but served as a training hub for hundreds of Nigerian recruits.
“The foreign nationals trained their Nigerian accomplices to target victims across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram, often impersonating women to lure foreigners into romance scams or fraudulent investments,” Uwujaren explained.
He added that one floor alone contained over 500 SIM cards from local networks, while recruits were given laptops, fake identities, and foreign phone numbers.
Nigeria vows stronger clampdown
EFCC Chair Olukoyede stressed that the case exposed how foreign nationals exploit Nigeria’s global reputation to conceal large-scale cyber fraud.
“Foreigners are taking advantage of our unfortunate image to conceal their operations. But this operation proves that Nigeria will not remain a haven for international fraudsters,” he declared.
Acting Lagos Zonal Director of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, called for greater media collaboration, warning that cybercrime poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s global standing.
Items seized during the raid included desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, and vehicles.
EFCC updates Nigerians on new scam scheme
Previously, Legit.ng reported that he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a fresh warning to Nigerians over a newly devised and sophisticated method by which fraudsters are defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement on Friday, July 25, the Commission described the scam as a fast-growing trend involving the use of malware, fake promotional schemes, and stolen personal data to siphon funds through unauthorised transactions and cryptocurrency laundering.
Source: Legit.ng
