The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of 109 foreign nationals in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres over allegations of cybercrime, money laundering, and illegal residency.
Justice Ekerete Akpan issued the order on Friday after a defense lawyer, James Onoja (SAN), sought an adjournment to correct discrepancies in the defendants’ names on the charge sheet.
The accused, citizens of countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar, were apprehended by police during a raid at a residence in Katampe District, Abuja.
Authorities allege the suspects were operating a fraudulent and unregistered online gaming platform.
Six charges have been brought against the defendants by the Inspector-General of Police. These include cybercrime, unlawful access to computer networks, inputting false data, and laundering proceeds from fraudulent gambling platforms such as 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top.
Additionally, the defendants are accused of overstaying their 30-day business permits and residing in Nigeria without valid visas or residency permits, violating the Immigration Act 2015.
During Friday’s court session, Onoja revealed that the defendants’ names were incorrectly reflected on the charge sheet. This discovery emerged during discussions on potential bail terms.
“We told them that the court would ask for their travel documents, and they said the names on the charge sheet were not their names,” Onoja explained. The senior advocate added that he had engaged with the prosecution lawyer, A.A. Egwu, to address the issue.
Egwu informed the court that the defendants’ respective embassies could provide their accurate travel documents for proper identification.
Both the defense and prosecution requested an adjournment to rectify the charge sheet and facilitate a fair trial.
They also agreed that the defendants should be moved from the overcrowded police facility to correctional centers for their safety.
Eric Obah, representing five Brazilian defendants, did not oppose the motion but sought a separate trial for his clients.
Justice Akpan, considering the strained capacity of the police detention facility, ordered the transfer of the defendants to Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres. The arraignment was adjourned to November 29, 2024.
In one count, the defendants were charged with conspiracy and aiding cybercrime, violating Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024). They were also accused of knowingly manipulating computer data to produce false information, contrary to Section 13 of the same Act.
Furthermore, the defendants allegedly removed proceeds from their fraudulent operations out of Nigeria, an act punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The court also cited their unlawful residency as a breach of Sections 4(2) and 44(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.
The court emphasized the importance of securing accurate identification to ensure a fair trial. Egwu proposed that embassies be involved in retrieving travel documents to expedite the process. Meanwhile, the defense lawyer urged the defendants to cooperate fully to facilitate a smooth legal process.
The high-profile case highlights Nigeria’s increasing vigilance in combating cybercrime and its commitment to upholding immigration laws.
