By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
A federal high court sitting in Abuja has convicted 21 foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime with a fine of one million naira each.
Justice Ekerete Akpan gave the order in Abuja. While delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Nigeria police force, justice Ekerete Akpan ordered their immediate deportation from Nigeria within six working days.
The court ruled that the sentence was based on the agreed terms of the plea bargain. “after the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.
The sentence shall be based on the parties’ agreement of one million fine each.”
The court also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the federal government.
The 21 convicts are among 109 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering – actions deemed threats to Nigeria’s national security.
