On June 13, 2025, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, sentenced four Filipino nationals and eight Nigerians to jail terms for their roles in a transnational cybercrime syndicate, marking a significant victory in Nigeria’s fight against digital financial crimes.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro, followed a high-profile raid in December 2024 that dismantled a Ponzi and cyber-terrorism network.
The convicted foreigners—Reyna Mae Eriba, Chyna Samonte, Zara Fabian, and Dominique Medina—were arrested alongside 729 others during a coordinated operation targeting a cybercrime hub on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Lagos.
The eight Nigerians convicted were Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, Chinecherem Michael, and Oghomienor Jotham.
All 12, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pleaded guilty to charges including cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and money laundering.
Chyna Samonte faced allegations of accessing computer systems to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structures by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft, violating the Cybercrimes Act (2015, as amended) and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Similarly, Chidera Ezechukwu was found guilty of retaining ₦12.75 million from an online romance scam, breaching the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
Justice Bogoro sentenced the Filipino nationals to one year in prison with a ₦1 million fine each and ordered their deportation by the Nigeria Immigration Service within seven days of serving their terms. The Nigerian convicts received one-year sentences with an option of a ₦500,000 fine.
The court also approved the EFCC’s request, led by counsels Anita Imo, S.I. Suleiman, H.U. Kofarnaisa, and B.M. Isah, to forfeit recovered assets, including cash, vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones, to the Nigerian government.
This landmark ruling underscores Nigeria’s intensified efforts to curb cybercrime, which has tarnished its global reputation and caused significant financial losses.
The EFCC’s successful prosecution highlights the agency’s commitment to dismantling sophisticated criminal networks operating both locally and internationally.