By WANDOO SOMBO

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, convicted five foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime and sentenced them to three years in prison with an option of N1 million fine each.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Federal Government ordered the deportation of the convicts upon completion of the prison term or payment of the fine.

The convicts are among 108 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed a threat to Nigeria’s national security.

The five convicts are Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang and Galin Suphaaut all represented in court by Christiana Sylvester.

The convicts who are from Thailand were re-arraigned on a three-count charge of cybercrime and illegally staying in the country without valid papers.

One of the count read: That you, Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang and Galin Suphaaut in September 2024, entered Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days.

“You remained in the country on the expiration of that permit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under the same act.”

They all pleaded guilty when the charge was read to them through a Thai interpreter.

The Prosecutor, F.G Gabriel prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly in view of their guilty plea.

He told the court that all parties had entered into a plea bargain and prayed the court to adopt same as its judgment against the defendants.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite convicted the defendants as charged and said that in view of the plea bargain he was sentencing them to one year in prison on each of the three counts with an option of N1 million fine.

The judge also held that the convicts were to be deported to their countries upon serving their prison term or paying the fine and charged the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure a seamless deportation.

He ruled that all gadgets and electronics devices used by the convicts to perpetrate the crime shall be forfeited to the federal government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts were arraigned in 2024.

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the correctional centre pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

The Police alleged that they operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.

They were accused of aiding abetting and conspiring among themselves to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime, contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act. (NAN)