21 Foreign Hackers Fined ₦1m Each, Ordered To Depart Nigeria

Nigeria’s Cybercrime Crackdown: 21 Foreign Hackers Convicted, Face Deportation

Overview of the Case

In a landmark judgment delivered on August 5, 2025, Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted 21 foreign nationals for high-level cybercrime. Each was fined ₦1 million and ordered to leave Nigeria within six working days, following a plea bargain agreement with the Nigeria Police Force.

The convicted individuals, hailing from China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were part of a larger group of 109 foreign nationals facing prosecution for cybercrime, money laundering, and immigration violations. They operated a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform in Abuja and were charged under:

• Cybercrimes Act (2015) – for unlawful access and input of false data.
• Money Laundering Act (2022) – for laundering proceeds from illegal platforms.
• Immigration Act (2015) – for overstaying their business permits.

All devices used in the commission of the crimes are to be forfeited to the Nigerian government. The trial of the remaining 88 defendants is scheduled for October 22 and 23, 2025.

Historical Trends of Cybercrime in Nigeria

From “Yahoo Yahoo” to AI Scams

Cybercrime in Nigeria has evolved dramatically over the past two decades:

• Early 2000s: Advance fee fraud (popularly known as “419” or “Yahoo Yahoo”) dominated, with scammers impersonating officials or wealthy benefactors.
• 2010s: As internet access expanded, scams diversified into romance fraud, fake job offers, and social media hacking.
• 2015: Nigeria passed the Cybercrime Act, criminalizing hacking, cyberstalking, and identity theft.
• 2020s: Emergence of AI-powered scams, including voice cloning, deepfakes, and ransomware attacks.

Cybercrime now affects sectors from banking to education, with estimated annual losses exceeding $500 million.

Nigeria’s Global Position on Cybercrime

Joining the Budapest Convention

In 2022, Nigeria officially joined the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, the world’s leading treaty on digital offenses. This move:

• Strengthens Nigeria’s ability to collaborate internationally on investigations.
• Aligns its laws with global standards.
• Opens access to training and technical support from the Council of Europe.

Comparative Legal Frameworks

Country	Cybercrime Law	Strengths	Gaps
Nigeria	Cybercrimes Act (2015)	Covers major offenses; extraterritorial reach	Needs updates for AI threats and synthetic media
U.S.	Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)	Strong federal enforcement, cyber units	Jurisdictional complexity
UK	Computer Misuse Act (1990)	GDPR alignment, active task forces	Cross-border enforcement challenges
South Africa	Cybercrimes Act (2021)	Modern provisions for cyberbullying, revenge porn	Enforcement still developing

Enforcement and Institutional Capacity

Nigeria’s enforcement is led by the EFCC, Police Cyber Units, and the Cybercrime Advisory Council. However, challenges persist:

• Limited forensic tools and digital evidence handling.
• Low conviction rates due to procedural delays.
• Fragmented agency coordination.

In contrast, countries like the U.S. and EU invest in real-time threat monitoring, cyber forensics labs, and public-private partnerships.

International Success Stories

Operation Phish Phry (U.S.–Egypt)

• Targeted phishing rings stealing banking credentials.
• Over 100 arrests through coordinated FBI and Egyptian efforts.

Avalanche Network Takedown (Europol)

• Dismantled global infrastructure for malware and money laundering.
• Involved 40 countries, with 39 servers seized.

INTERPOL Ransomware Task Force

• Tackled ransomware targeting hospitals and infrastructure.
• Arrests made in Ukraine and South Korea.

Recommendations for Nigeria

To become a regional leader in cybercrime enforcement, Nigeria should:

Update Legislation: Expand the Cybercrimes Act to include AI-driven threats like deepfakes and voice cloning.

Invest in Forensics: Build national labs and train law enforcement in digital evidence analysis.

Enhance International Cooperation: Deepen ties with Interpol, Europol, and UNODC.

Educate the Public: Launch nationwide campaigns on phishing, scams, and digital hygiene.

Final Line of Action

The conviction and deportation of 21 foreign hackers marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime. But to truly safeguard its digital future, Nigeria must modernize its legal tools, strengthen enforcement, and embrace global cooperation. The digital battlefield is evolving, and Nigeria must evolve with it.