The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned 113 foreign nationals recently arrested for alleged involvement in cybercrimes and other offences before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This is contained in a Monday statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi said the defendants were arraigned for computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration.
He said the arraignment follows extensive investigations that have uncovered the alleged involvement of these individuals in criminal activities spanning both cybercrime, immigration offences and human trafficking networks.
The suspects were arrested on November 3 in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by operatives attached to Zone 7 command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja.
The police said during investigation, operatives of the NPF-NCCC recovered a vast array of digital critical evidence, believed to be instrumental in the syndicate’s cybercrime operations.
The recovered items include 1 Black Toyota Tundra vehicle, laptops of different makes, smartphones of various brands, tablets, desktops, computers and keyboards, Harman/Kardon sound system, MTN routers, Huawei routers, Airtel routers, D-Link routers, Starlink routers, Gamepads, 1 Sony PlayStation 5, a central processing unit, Multiple SIM cards from both local and international service Providers, and high-capacity servers.
Other items include drones and specialised cyber equipment, international passports, identity cards, and travel documents.
Adejobi disclosed that these assets recovered are suspected to have been used in executing a range of cybercrime activities, including unauthorised data breaches, marketing scams and other cybercrime activities.
“The scale and sophistication of the operation underscores the increasing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders,” the police spokesman said.
He added, “As a follow-up to the investigation and recoveries, compiled with credible evidence against the suspects, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), has arraigned the 113 foreign nationals facing serious charges, including computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
“The arraignment of these suspects follows extensive investigations that have uncovered the alleged involvement of these individuals in criminal activities spanning both cybercrime, immigration offences and human trafficking networks.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has reaffirmed the capabilities and expertise of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling cybercrimes and protecting cyberspace in Nigeria and beyond.
The IGP said this while commending the police operatives responsible for arresting the 113 foreign nationals.
The police boss said the force would continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies and embassies to track and prosecute cybercriminals, combat cybercrime and other forms of transnational criminal activity and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law.
Egbetokun reaffirmed the commitment of the force to leverage the emerging technological advancement to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and in the digital space, reiterating that the force is well-dedicated and well-equipped to combat cases of cybercrime in the country.
