A federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted 12 Filipinos for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
Gatekeepers News reports that the convicts are Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza.
They were arraigned on Friday by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges of fraud.
Anjeanette Topacio was charged with attempting to undermine Nigeria’s economic and social structure by recruiting young Nigerians to commit identity theft and impersonate foreign nationals for fraudulent financial gain. MmHer actions violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Shairah Mae Reyes was found guilty of possessing false documents obtained through Telegram, where she posed as a woman based in the UK to defraud others, an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict the defendants in line with their plea bargain agreements with EFCC.
Yellim Bogoro, the presiding judge, convicted and sentenced each defendant to one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of one million naira.
The judge also ordered that all electronic devices recovered from them be forfeited to the federal government.
In addition, Bogoro directed Kemi Nanna Nandap, comptroller-general of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to arrange for the deportation of the convicts within seven days after they complete their prison terms.
