The Nigerian Immigration Service has deported 51 foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime and online fraud. This move took place on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

These individuals were among 192 Chinese and Philippine citizens arrested last December by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for involvement in cybercrime activities.

The latest deportation includes 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, bringing the total number of deported offenders to 102 since the process began on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Before the arrests, EFCC reported that the cybercriminal network ran large-scale online scams and Ponzi schemes targeting victims both in Nigeria and abroad.

The convicts faced charges for using fake online identities to defraud people, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent schemes, and other offences under Nigeria’s Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

EFCC emphasized that these crimes seriously threatened Nigeria’s security and financial systems through cyber fraud.

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman, called the convictions and deportations a major achievement in Nigeria’s battle against cybercrime and financial scams.

He assured the public that the Commission will continue to investigate cybercriminal networks, recover stolen funds, and protect the country’s reputation, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.