Federal high court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 109 foreigners in connection with alleged cybercrime and money laundering activities.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suspects will be held at the Kuje and Suleja correctional centres, as directed by trial judge Ekerete Akpan.
On November 3, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) reported the arrest of 130 individuals involved in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities that pose a threat to national security. Among those arrested, 113 are foreign nationals—comprising 87 males and 26 females—along with 17 Nigerian collaborators, consisting of four males and 13 females.
During a court session for potential arraignment on Friday, the proceedings were delayed due to the lack of legal representation for the suspects. The inspector-general of police filed a six-count charge against them, which includes accusations of unlawfully residing in Nigeria.
In Friday’s court proceedings, James Onoja, the attorney representing some of the defendants, pointed out discrepancies in the charge sheet, noting that the correct names of several clients were not listed. He also mentioned that some defendants required interpreters to understand the English used in court.
“This information came to light when we were discussing the possible terms of bail for the defendants,” he said.
“We told them that the court would ask for their travel documents, and they said the names on the charge sheet were not their names.”
The counsel proposed an adjournment of the arraignment, a move that was not opposed by A.A. Egwu, counsel to the police.
Egwu reminded the court about an earlier ex-parte motion on the request for the relocation of the defendants from police facility to the correctional centres pending the determination of bail.
He said the police facility is overwhelmed due to the high number of suspects.
The presiding judge agreed with the police counsel, adding that it is appropriate to remand the suspects at the correctional centres.
Akpan remanded the suspects at the Kuje and Suleja correctional centres and adjourned the case to November 29.
