The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Tuesday convicted five foreign nationals of high-level cybercrime and sentenced them to three years in prison, with an option of a N1 million fine each.

Justice Emeka Nwite, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the federal government, ordered the  deportation of the convicts upon completion of the prison term or payment of the fine.

The convicts are among 108 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the inspector general of police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed a threat to Nigeria’s national security.

The five convicts are Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang, and Galin Suphaaut, all of whom are represented in court by Christiana Sylvester. The convicts who are from Thailand were re-arraigned on a three-count charge of cybercrime and illegally staying in the country without valid papers.

In September 2024, they entered Nigeria with a 30-day business permit and remained in the country despite the expiration of the permit and “thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under the same act”.

They all pleaded guilty when the charge was read to them through a Thai interpreter.

The judge convicted the defendants as charged and stated that, in view of a plea bargain, he was sentencing them to one year in prison on each of the three counts, with an option of a N1 million fine.

The judge also held that the convicts were to be deported to their countries upon serving their prison term or paying the fine and charged the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure a seamless deportation.

He ruled that all gadgets and electronic devices used by the convicts to perpetrate the crime should be forfeited to the federal government.

The convicts were arraigned in 2024. They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

The police alleged that they operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.

They were accused of aiding, abetting, and conspiring among themselves to commit an offence, to wit: cybercrime, contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024). They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

(NAN)