By Parrot Newspaper 
Court Jails Foreigners in Lagos for Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud
Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced twelve Filipino nationals to one year in prison each for involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The convicted individuals 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 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges of possessing fraudulent documents.
One of the charges read:
“That you, Anjeanette Topacio, in December 2024 in Lagos, knowingly accessed computer systems with the intent to destabilize Nigeria’s economic and social structure by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonation of foreign nationals to gain financial advantage, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.”
Another charge against Shairah May Reyes stated that she was found in possession of a fake Telegram profile in which she posed as a UK-based woman — an act contrary to Section 6(8c) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
All twelve defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict the defendants based on the plea bargain agreement reached with the Commission.
Justice Bogoro sentenced each of them to one year in prison with an additional fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira).
He further directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to ensure the repatriation of the convicts to the Philippines within seven days after they serve their jail terms.
All electronic devices recovered from them were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.