The Nigerian government has deported several foreign nationals convicted of operating a large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme, following a joint operation that authorities described as one of the country’s biggest crackdowns on transnational financial crimes. The syndicate, according to officials, was dismantled after a December raid that exposed its extensive network targeting unsuspecting victims.
A senior immigration officer at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, who confirmed the development on Sunday, said the convicts were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for deportation immediately after serving their jail terms. He explained that the action was in line with standard procedure, noting that crimes of such magnitude automatically void immigration status. “We cannot allow foreigners to commit crimes in our country and have Nigerians take the blame,” the official said.
Another senior officer stressed that the service was monitoring other foreign nationals suspected of similar activities. He added that the deportations were conducted quietly for security reasons, emphasizing that the immigration service is “result-oriented and not interested in public opinion.” According to him, the move was part of ongoing operations to safeguard Nigeria’s borders against criminal infiltration.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the offenders, disclosed that the syndicate used false identities to defraud victims and trained staff of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices. EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede hailed the deportations as a milestone in the fight against cybercrime, describing the convictions as “a strong signal that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for cybercriminals.” He added that the agency remained committed to recovering stolen funds and restoring national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.
Officials confirmed that the offences violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and were calculated to undermine Nigeria’s financial security. Security sources said the successful prosecution and deportation of the convicts marked a turning point in the battle against cyber-enabled crimes, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to combating corruption and safeguarding its borders.
