Court jails 12 Filipinos for cyber-terrorism, fraud

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced 12 Philippine nationals to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts are among 792 individuals, including foreign nationals and Nigerians, suspected of belonging to a cyber-terrorism and internet fraud syndicate. Their arrest occurred last December in Lagos during a landmark EFCC operation, the largest single bust of a cybercrime syndicate in Nigeria to date.

Delivering judgement on Friday, the trial judge, Yellin Bogoro, handed down the sentence after the 12 foreigners pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts include Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, and Lari Jane Tayag.

The rest are Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza,

A statement from the EFCC’s spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Friday said they were arraigned on separate charges of possession of fraudulent documents and related cybercrime offences.

For instance, one of the charges alleged that Anjeanette Topacio, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos, willfully caused computer systems to be accessed with intent to destabilise Nigeria’s economic and social structure. The count stated further that the defendant procured Nigerian youths for identity theft, falsely representing themselves as foreigners for financial gain…”

A charge against Ms Reyes alleged she was in possession of a Telegram message with false identity claims, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

Mr Oyewale stated that all 12 defendants pleaded guilty under a plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC.

He noted that following their pleas, prosecution lawyers – N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa – urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Sentence

Mr Bogoro sentenced each convict to one year in prison with an option of a N1 million fine.

The judge also ordered their repatriation to the Philippines within seven days after completing their sentence.

The court also ordered that all digital devices recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Background

The convicts were among 14 Philippine nationals earlier remanded by the court in February 2025 for alleged cryptocurrency fraud and other cybercrime offences.

They were part of a syndicate of 792 suspects arrested by the EFCC on 10 December 2024, during a large-scale raid on No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

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According to the EFCC, the syndicate was involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud, romance scams, and identity theft, targeting Nigerian and international victims.

The anti-graft agency said the crackdown was the largest single-day anti-cybercrime operation by the Commission, netting 158 foreign nationals among the 792 suspects.

While 12 of the Philippine nationals opted for a plea deal and have now been convicted, other sets of defendants that have been arraigned in court so far have maintained their innocence.

Those still standing trial include Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Dominique Medina, and Rachelle Cabalona.

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