Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 113 foreign nationals and 17 Nigerian collaborators at the Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities. The accused, including individuals from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia, face charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and unlawful residency in Nigeria.
The male defendants were directed to be held at Kuje prison, while the female suspects were sent to Suleja prison. The group was apprehended on November 3, 2024, at a property in Katampe District, Abuja, allegedly engaged in cyber activities that compromised Nigeria’s national security. They are accused of operating fraudulent gambling platforms and engaging in hacking and data manipulation.
The charge sheet also alleges that the suspects overstayed their 30-day business permits, remaining in Nigeria without valid documentation. The platforms implicated in the case include 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top.
During Friday’s court session, the arraignment was delayed due to discrepancies in the defendants’ names on the charge sheet and the absence of interpreters for those who do not understand English. Counsel for some of the defendants, James Onoja (SAN), requested an adjournment to address these issues. The prosecution counsel, A. A. Egwu, supported the remand motion, citing the lack of police facilities to house the defendants.
The court directed the defendants to provide travel documents to resolve the name discrepancies. It also rejected a request from Eric Oba, counsel for the Brazilian defendants, to separate their trial and keep them at the police facility due to alleged safety concerns.
Justice Akpan adjourned the case to November 29 for arraignment and instructed Oba to file a formal application for the separation of his clients’ trial.
