The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of four Filipino nationals and seven Nigerians for cyberterrorism and internet fraud-related offences.

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, delivered the ruling after the EFCC filed separate charges against each of the defendants.

The Filipino convicts were identified as Reyna Mae Eriba, Chynna Samonte, Zara Fabian, and Dominique Medina. The Nigerian nationals convicted include Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, and Oghomienor Jotham.

Each defendant faced individual charges involving cyberterrorism, identity theft, and online fraud. In one instance, Chynna Samonte was accused of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s economic and social stability by using computer systems to recruit young Nigerians for impersonation and identity theft schemes. This violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes Act (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.), 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In another case, Nigerian national Chidera Ezechukwu was charged with retaining ₦12.75 million in a UBA account—suspected proceeds from an online dating scam. He was prosecuted under Section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 (as amended), and punishable under Section 14(2) of the same Act.

All eleven defendants pleaded guilty.

Following their pleas, EFCC prosecutors—Anita Imo, S.I. Suleiman, H.U. Kofarnaisa, and B.M. Isah—asked the court to convict and sentence them, and to order the forfeiture of all seized items to the Federal Government.

Justice Bogoro sentenced the four Filipinos—Eriba, Samonte, Fabian, and Medina—to one year in prison each or a fine of ₦1 million. He also directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to arrange their deportation within seven days of completing their sentences.

Among the Nigerians, Gbenga Shittu Solomon received a one-year prison term or a ₦700,000 fine. The other six—Jotham, Olamilekan, Ezechukwu, David, Ifeanyi, and Oluchukwu—were each sentenced to one year imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convicts—including vehicles, communication devices, and funds—to the Federal Government of Nigeria.