By Charles Pemu ABUJA – The Federal Government of Nigeria has completed a major repatriation exercise, deporting the final batch of 51 foreign nationals convicted of cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and related financial crimes back to their home countries. This concluding effort brings the total number of expelled convicts to 192.
The deportations, coordinated between August and mid-October 2025, were spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The deported convicts include citizens from a diverse set of nations: China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste. They were all convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos on charges ranging from cybercrime and money laundering to operating Ponzi schemes.
The final group of 51, which included 50 Chinese citizens and one Tunisian, was repatriated on October 16, 2025. The initial deportation, involving 42 convicts, primarily Chinese and Filipino nationals, took place on August 15, 2025.
The multi-agency crackdown originated from a major sting operation conducted by the EFCC on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, which led to the arrest of 759 suspects.
The Sophisticated Genting Network
Investigations revealed that the convicts were key operators in a sophisticated cybercrime and Ponzi network running under the name Genting International Co. Limited. Authorities found that the foreign nationals were allegedly responsible for training recruits and managing fraudulent digital platforms that targeted victims both within Nigeria and internationally.
Authorities state that the completion of the mass deportation exercise brings the extensive cybercrime crackdown to a decisive close. This action, they say, significantly reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to fighting transnational digital fraud and financial crimes, serving as a stern warning to foreign nationals attempting to use Nigerian soil for illegal activities.