Eagle Flush Exposé:14 Chinese Cybercriminals Jailed in Lagos Over Romance, Crypto Scams"

"Eagle Flush Exposé:

14 Chinese Cybercriminals Jailed in Lagos Over Romance, Crypto Scams" 

 By: OvieOmeleh 

LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a stunning courtroom twist that has reverberated across cybercrime circles, 14 Chinese nationals have been sentenced to prison by a Federal High Court in Ikoyi for their roles in a sprawling cyber-terrorism and internet fraud network, one of the most audacious ever uncovered on Nigerian soil.

Presiding Justice Daniel Osiagor handed down the sentences following guilty pleas from the accused, marking a dramatic conclusion to a saga that began with their arrest in the EFCC’s high-stakes sting operation, codenamed “Eagle Flush.” Launched on December 19, 2024, the crackdown swept up 792 suspects in a coordinated effort targeting cross-border crypto scams and fake online romance schemes.

Among the convicted were Su Zong Gen, Li Zhong Chang, and Chen Gui Ping, alleged kingpins in the syndicate accused of manipulating digital platforms to undermine Nigeria’s economy and defraud global victims. 

Su Zong Gen was specifically charged with accessing computer systems to destabilize the financial system, an offense under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act of 2015.

What started as firm denials from the accused took an unexpected turn in the latest proceedings when all 14 suddenly changed their pleas to guilty, fueling intense speculation about "behind the scenes" plea bargains or a deeper international network still under investigation.

Prosecutors wasted no time urging the court to convict, a motion left uncontested by the defense counsel, Segun Bello. In delivering the verdict, Justice Osiagor sentenced each convict to one year in prison with an option of a ₦1 million fine. 

He also ordered the forfeiture of all recovered assets to the federal government and directed that the convicts be deported to China within seven days of completing their sentences.

This case is being hailed as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s cybercrime enforcement history and underscores the increasingly sophisticated and international nature of digital fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to intensify its war against cybercriminal cartels, warning that “Eagle Flush” was just the beginning.

As global law enforcement watches closely, the message is clear: Nigeria is no longer safe ground for cyber fraudsters, no matter how far-reaching their network or foreign their passport.