The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday convicted and sentenced five Thai nationals identified as Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang, and Galin Suphaaut, on charges of cybercrime and illegal stay.
The convicts were sentenced to three years in prison (one year per count), with an option to pay N1million each.
The court also ordered their deportation after serving their sentences or upon payment of the fine.
One of the counts read: ”you Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang and Galin Suphaaut in September 2024, entered Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days.
“You remained in the country on the expiration of that permit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under the same act,” according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The convicts pleaded guilty, through a Thai interpreter, after entering a plea bargain, which the prosecution, represented by F.G. Gabriel, urged the court to adopt.
Justice Nwite, delivering the judgment, also ordered that all electronic devices used in the crimes be forfeited to the Nigerian government, and directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to oversee their deportation.
The convicts were among 108 foreign nationals facing charges from the Inspector-General of Police related to cybercrime, money laundering, and threats to national security.
The verdict aligns with a broader pattern of legal actions Nigeria has taken against foreign nationals involved in cyber-related offences, often in collaboration with the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission).
In August 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos jailed about 42 foreign nationals including Chinese and Filipinos for one year each, via a plea bargain, and imposed a N1 million fine per person.
The convicts were deported within days after serving or paying fines.
In June 2025, nine Chinese nationals were convicted under plea deals and sentenced to one year imprisonment each in Lagos, with N1million fines.
Devices were forfeited, and deportation was ordered after sentence completion.
Also in June 2025, a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos sentenced 18 foreign nationals including 15 Chinese, two Filipinos, one Pakistani, to one year imprisonment, with N1 million fines each, followed by deportation.
Seized gadgets were forfeited to the government.
In May 2025, 18 foreigners including Chinese and Filipinos were convicted for cyber-terrorism, impersonation, and identity theft linked to a global syndicate.
They received one-year terms, fines, forfeiture of equipment, and swift deportation mandates.
Also in May 2025, another 15 foreign nationals from China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia were convicted for internet fraud and cyber-terrorism.
They received similar one-year sentences, fines, forfeitures, and deportation orders.
Also, a Federal High Court in Abuja in August fined 21 foreign hackers N1million each under a plea agreement.
They were to be deported within six working days following payment. Electronic gadgets used in the crimes were confiscated.
