A Lagos Federal High Court has ordered the deportation of four Filipino nationals convicted of cyberterrorism and internet fraud. Justice Yellim Bogoro, presiding in Ikoyi, directed the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service to deport the convicts within seven days of completing their sentences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the ruling in a statement on Friday, revealing that alongside the Filipinos, seven Nigerians were also convicted and sentenced on similar charges by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
The Filipino convicts are Reyna Mae Eriba, Chyna Samonte, Zara Fabian, and Dominique Medina. The Nigerian defendants include Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, and Oghomienor Jotham.
Among the allegations, Chyna Samonte was accused of masterminding the use of Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonating foreigners to obtain financial benefits, violating the Cybercrimes Act and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act. Chidera Ezechukwu faced charges of retaining over ₦12 million believed to be proceeds from an online dating scam, breaching the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
All defendants pleaded guilty, leading the prosecution to seek their conviction and the forfeiture of all seized items to the federal government.
Justice Bogoro sentenced the Filipino nationals to one year imprisonment or a ₦1 million fine each. Gbenga Shittu Solomon was sentenced to one year or a ₦700,000 fine, while the other Nigerian convicts received one year or a ₦500,000 fine each.
The court also ordered that all confiscated assets—including vehicles, communication devices, and money—be forfeited to the federal government.
