The Federal Government of Nigeria has deported 51 foreign nationals convicted of cyberterrorism, internet fraud, and related financial crimes back to their home countries, marking the conclusion of a large-scale repatriation exercise that saw a total of 192 convicts expelled.
According to official sources, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) coordinated the deportations in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in compliance with court directives and established immigration protocols.
The deported individuals include citizens of China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste. They were expelled in coordinated phases between August and mid-October 2025, following their conviction by the Federal High Court in Lagos on charges bordering on cybercrime, money laundering, and Ponzi scheme operations.
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The crackdown stemmed from a major sting operation conducted by the EFCC on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, which led to the arrest of 759 suspects.
The first batch of 42 convicts — primarily Chinese and Filipino nationals — was deported on August 15, 2025, while the final group of 51, including 50 Chinese citizens and one Tunisian, was repatriated on October 16, 2025.
Investigations revealed that the convicts were part of a sophisticated cybercrime and Ponzi network operating under Genting International Co. Limited, where they allegedly trained recruits and managed fraudulent digital platforms targeting victims both locally and abroad.
Authorities say the deportation exercise marks the decisive conclusion of the multi-agency cybercrime crackdown and reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational digital fraud and financial crimes.
