The Federal High Court in Abuja convicted five foreign nationals for cybercrime and sentenced each to three years imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of N1 million instead.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, delivered the judgment based on a plea bargain agreement between the defendants and the federal government.
In addition to the prison term or fine, the judge ordered that the convicts be deported after serving their sentences or paying the fines.
These five individuals are part of a group of 108 foreign nationals facing prosecution by the Inspector General of Police on charges including cybercrime, money laundering, and threats to Nigeria’s national security.
The convicted persons Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang, and Galin Suphaaut—are Thai nationals and were represented in court by lawyer Christiana Sylvester.
They were re-arraigned on a three-count indictment which included cybercrime offenses and residing in Nigeria without valid documentation.
According to one charge, they entered Nigeria in September 2024 on a 30-day business permit but overstayed, violating Section 57 of the Immigration Act 2015.
When the charges were read through a Thai interpreter, all five pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor, F.G. Gabriel, urged the court to convict and sentence them based on their guilty pleas and the plea bargain arrangement.
Justice Nwite found the defendants guilty as charged. Taking the plea bargain into account, he sentenced each to one year imprisonment on each of the three counts, with the option to pay N1 million instead of serving jail time.
The judge also ordered their deportation after completing their sentences or paying the fines and instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure a smooth deportation process.
The court ordered the confiscation of all electronic devices used by the convicts to carry out their crimes, to be forfeited to the federal government.
The accused were initially arraigned in 2024, where they pleaded not guilty and were detained in a correctional center pending fulfillment of bail conditions.
The police stated that the suspects operated from Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, running an unlicensed gaming platform.
They faced charges for conspiring to commit cybercrime under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (amended 2024).
They were also charged with unlawful access to computer networks and inputting false data under Section 13 of the same Act.
