Court Orders Remand of 109 Alleged Foreign Hackers Involved in Cybercrime
The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded 109 foreign nationals in prison custody, accused of attempting to defraud Nigerians through cybercrime.
The defendants, hailing from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, and Myanmar, face a six-count charge brought against them by the Cybercrime Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
The court ordered that the male defendants be held in Kuje Prison in Abuja, while the female defendants were to be detained at Suleja Prison in Niger State, pending further legal proceedings.
The case has been adjourned until next week when the defendants will formally enter their pleas.
On the same day, five Brazilian defendants requested a separate trial due to safety concerns, alleging that their co-defendants were upset with them for providing statements to the police.
Their lawyer also sought the return of their seized passports to the Brazilian government.
The court granted permission for the Brazilian defendants to file a formal application for a severed trial.
The 109 defendants are accused of engaging in cybercrime activities, including promoting fraudulent gambling platforms and committing money laundering.
They are also facing charges related to illegal residency in Nigeria, having overstayed their business permits.
The accused were arrested in a building located in Katampe District, Abuja, where they were allegedly involved in cybercrime activities.
The police maintain that their actions led to significant financial losses for individuals both in Nigeria and internationally.
The defendants are also facing charges under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The trial is ongoing, with further hearings scheduled for next week.
Leave a Reply