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update from EFCC : Court Jails 12 Filipinos for Cyber-terrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos

Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced twelve Filipinos to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts are: Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella and Jonalyn Mendoza

They were arraigned on Friday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate charges of possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Anjeanette Topacio, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilize and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Another charge reads: “That you, Shairah May Reyes, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, had in your possession a document containing false pretense, printed from your Telegram, wherein you posed to be a lady, living in the UK , which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 6 (8c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, N.K.Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa, respectively requested that the court convict the defendants as charged, in accordance with the plea bargain they had entered into with the Commission.

Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced the defendants to one year imprisonment each, with a fine of N1,000,000.00( One Million Naira).

The judge also ordered the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days upon completion of their sentences.

The devices recovered from the defendants were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“@officialefcc I told you this naira mutilation law will rubbish the name of the commission… You say everybody deserves a fair hearing but you kidnapped me, traumatized my mother with guns to her head, said you would shoot my friend’s legs. Under duress, you collected the password to my phone. You still have my phones and the car I drove that day — all this without a charge or a petition. Anyways, na me and una dey Naija. (Meanwhile, where is CBN?)”

VDM’s remarks reflect growing public frustration over the commission’s recent enforcement tactics and its handling of high-profile cases.

Activist VDM slammed the EFCC's perceived double standards, reacting to a statement by the commission’s boss who said, “Nobody should condemn Tompolo for mere allegations.” VDM fired back, “But you arrest others with mere allegations! Shameless organisation.”

Prince Arthur Eze on President Bola Tinubu:

“God doesn’t make mistakes. That man, Tinubu, was created for a purpose. God gave him the power to change lives. Tinubu has no enemies. He is a unifier. He speaks with humility and honesty; that’s why we admire him. What Tinubu has done for the Southeast, nobody else has. He gave us the minister of works, the minister of science and technology, and the Southeast Development Commission. This is an opportunity for the Igbo to unite with the rest of Nigeria.”

Peter Obi, reaffirming his commitment to the Labour Party ahead of 2027, said:

“I remain committed to the Labour Party and to the mission of building a new Nigeria. What we are witnessing today are not accidental hardships — these are government-orchestrated crises. The people deserve leadership that puts them first.”

Omoyele Sowore on Nigeria's political elite:

“They’re not about values or service. If you dig deeper, you’ll realise they’re just fighting over how to share the loot, not about how to serve the people.”

On whether he’s running in 2027:

“I get this question a lot. My answer remains the same: I’ve never stopped running. Whether it’s a campaign, a protest, a court battle—I’m always running for something. But if you’re asking about elections, I don’t believe in the current ballot system. The 2027 results are already written. The only thing that can change Nigeria is rebellion against the system, against another sham election—not against democracy, anyway.”

On political alliances:

“The alliance I care about is with the oppressed. They are the real majority. The 50 million registered voters who don’t vote—they’re my alliance. Not transactional coalitions built to chase power and money.”

On Atiku Abubakar:

“Atiku is a man whose time has passed. But he’s still hanging around, hoping to be President. That’s all he cares about. Everything else is irrelevant to him.”

On President Tinubu’s administration:

“They are being deceived. There’s nothing good coming from this. Removing fuel subsidy, floating the naira—none of it benefits ordinary people. The naira is still collapsing. Prices are rising. If they say this is the ‘hard road to prosperity,’ I say it’s a road to destruction.”

Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on President Tinubu’s early 2027 endorsements:

“Tinubu’s 2027 endorsements are fake and do not reflect the true will of Nigerians.”

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, reveals:

“The Federal Government has disclosed that it turned back eight foreigners last week for attempting to enter Nigeria without valid visas.”