NIS Begins Deportation of 42 Convicted Chinese and Philippine Nationals.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences.
The first batch of deportees is scheduled to leave Nigeria today, Sunday, August 18, 2025, marking the beginning of a large-scale repatriation exercise. According to officials, additional batches will follow on Monday and Tuesday, when more convicted foreigners will be airlifted back to their home countries.
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Recall that the convicts were part of a 192-member group of foreigners recently sentenced for their involvement in cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme operations. They were among the 759 suspects arrested on December 10, 2024, during a massive security raid at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The syndicate was found to be running a large-scale cybercrime and financial scam, which authorities described as one of the most extensive crackdowns on transnational fraud in Nigeria’s history.
EFCC Confirms Convictions
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the cases, confirmed that the charges included:
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Using fake online identities to defraud victims.
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Training staff of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices.
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Violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Official Reactions
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, hailed the deportation as a milestone in Nigeria’s anti-corruption war. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to recovering stolen funds, intensifying investigations, and restoring national dignity, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.
The December 2024 raid remains one of Nigeria’s largest anti-cybercrime operations, dealing a major blow to transnational financial crime networks.
