The Nigerian Immigration Service is set to deport 42 of the 192 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted for their involvement in cyber terrorism and Ponzi schemes. The first group of deportees is scheduled to depart Nigeria today, Sunday, August 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. local time.
These individuals were among 759 arrested during a large-scale raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. The remaining deportees will be sent back to their home countries on Monday and Tuesday.
The group, which operated an extensive cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme, had been under investigation in a joint operation involving several agencies. The convicts were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for deportation following their trials.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led the prosecution, revealed that 192 foreign nationals, mainly from China and the Philippines, had been convicted. They faced charges ranging from using fake identities for online fraud to training employees in fraudulent practices at Genting International Co. Limited. These crimes are violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede hailed the convictions and deportations as a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against cybercrime and financial fraud. He emphasized the Commission’s commitment to deepening investigations, recovering stolen funds, and restoring the country’s financial integrity, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.
The December raid, regarded as one of the most significant anti-cybercrime operations in Nigeria, marked a critical moment in the country’s efforts to tackle transnational financial crime.
