The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has convicted 15 foreign nationals for recruiting Nigerian youths in Lagos to carry out internet fraud and cyber-terrorism activities, the commission revealed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The convicted included 11 Filipinos, two Chinese nationals, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian, all arraigned on charges related to possession of fraudulent documents and cybercrimes committed in December 2024.

EFCC disclosed that Winnie De Jesus and Kayceelynn Remorin, in collaboration with a corporate entity Genting International Co. Ltd, orchestrated schemes to use Nigerian youths for identity theft by having them impersonate foreigners to secure financial gain.

De Jesus was accused of willfully accessing computer systems to “destabilise and destroy Nigeria’s economic and social structure,” while Remorin facilitated similar fraudulent activities and impersonated ‘Anastacia Lim’ to benefit financially.

EFCC counsel urged the court to convict the suspects following their guilty pleas. Justice Bogoro and Justice Owoeye sentenced each convict to one year imprisonment or a fine of N1 million, with orders for their deportation within seven days of serving their sentences.

“All devices recovered from the convicts were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the court ruled.

This conviction marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime and foreign-led cyber-terrorism networks exploiting local youths.