KEY POINTS
- 42 out of 192 convicted foreigners deported on Sunday.
- Arrest followed December 2024 raid in Victoria Island, Lagos.
- EFCC says syndicate ran large-scale Ponzi and cyberfraud scheme.
Nigeria on Sunday began the deportation of 192 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyberterrorism and Ponzi scheme offences, marking one of the largest repatriation operations linked to financial crime in the country.
The first group of 42 deportees departed Lagos at 2:00 p.m. local time, according to senior officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The process will continue in phases until Tuesday, when all remaining convicts are scheduled to be returned to their home countries.
Crackdown on transnational fraud
The deportees were among 759 suspects arrested during a December 10, 2024, joint operation in Victoria Island, Lagos. Investigators said the group had been running a vast cyberfraud and Ponzi network under the banner of Genting International Co. Limited, training employees in fraudulent practices and defrauding victims through false identities.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the cases, said the convictions underscored the country’s resolve to tackle transnational financial crimes.
“These convictions send a strong signal that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for cybercriminals,” EFCC chairman Olukoyede said. He also described the deportations as a “significant milestone” in President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption campaign.
Immigration service moves quietly
Senior NIS officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the deportations were conducted with minimal publicity for further security reasons.
“Whether it’s a criminal offence or a visa violation, anyone who has served their jail term is typically deported. Moreover with valid papers, certain crimes void immigration status,” one official said.
Another officer added that the service continues to monitor foreign nationals suspected of similar offences. “Our duty is sensitive. We are focused on results, not public recognition,” the officer said.
Shielding Nigeria’s reputation
Officials stressed that the operation was carried out strictly within legal provisions. A senior source in a sister security agency also noted that allowing the offenders to remain could damage Nigeria’s reputation.
“These nationals committed criminal-related offences, not just immigration violations. We can’t let them stay and have people think Nigerians are behind their crimes,” the official further said.
Turning point
The December raid has been described as a turning point in Nigeria’s crackdown on transnational financial crime. For the EFCC, the deportations not only mark the end of a landmark case but also reinforce the agency’s commitment to recovering stolen funds and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
