A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced four Filipinos and eight Nigerians to prison for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
Justice Yellim Bogoro delivered the ruling on Friday, June 13, 2025, convicting the 12 individuals who were among 729 persons arrested in December 2024 during a massive EFCC raid on a suspected Ponzi and cybercrime syndicate located on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, arraigned the suspects on separate charges. All 12 pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
Among the convicted Filipinos are Reyna Mae Eriba, Chyna Samonte, Zara Fabian, and Dominique Medina, who were sentenced to one year in prison each, with an option of ₦1 million fine. The judge also ordered that they be deported by the Nigeria Immigration Service within seven days after serving their jail terms or paying their fines.
The convicted Nigerians are Chidera Ezechukwu, Favour Oluchukwu, Egwenum Ifeanyi, David Okezie, Gbenga Shittu Solomon, Ibraheem Olamilekan, Chinecherem Michael, and Oghomienor Jotham.
Shittu was sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of ₦700,000. The others received similar one-year jail terms, with the option of ₦500,000 fines.
One of the charges stated that Filipino national Chynna Samonte used Nigerian youths for identity theft and internet scams aimed at disrupting the country’s economy and gaining illegal profits — a crime under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes and Terrorism Acts.
In another case, Nigerian convict Chidera Ezechukwu Praise was found to have retained over ₦12.7 million in her bank account from an online dating scam, violating the Money Laundering Act.
The court also ordered that all items recovered from the convicts — including cars, gadgets, and cash — be forfeited to the Federal Government.
This judgment adds to the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to tackle financial crimes and cybercriminal activities involving both local and foreign actors in Nigeria.
