Nigeria jails 15 Asians, including Malaysian, for cyber-terrorism and internet scams
LAGOS, May 31 — A Nigerian court jailed 15 foreign nationals yesterday — all Asians — for 'cyber-terrorism and internet fraud', the national anti-graft agency said, one of the largest such cases in the country.
Eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian and one Indonesian were sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of one million naira (about RM2,681) each in the commercial capital, Lagos, after pleading guilty, said Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman Dele Oyewale.
They were accused of recruiting young Nigerians for 'identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality'.
'The judges also ordered that the devices recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria,' Oyewale said.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is saddled with a reputation for internet fraudsters known in local slang as 'Yahoo Boys'.
The EFCC has busted several hideouts where young criminals learn their scams.
Cybercrime experts also warn that foreign 'cybercrime syndicates' have set up shop in the country to exploit its weak cybersecurity systems.
The EFCC said foreign gangs recruited Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams, in which attackers typically try to deceive victims into transferring them money or revealing sensitive information such as passwords.
The scams target mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans, the agency said.
In December, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects in a single operation in the affluent Victoria Island area of Lagos.
At least 192 of the suspects were foreign nationals — 148 of them Chinese, the agency said.
Dozens of other Chinese suspects are also standing trial for similar crimes. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Africa pioneers low-cost, non-dollar payment systems, defying Trump's de-dollarisation threats
PAPSS payment system allows trade settlement in local currencies Experts says move aims of lowering trade costs South Africa using G20 presidency to advance local payments US President Trump warns against de-dollarisation efforts NAIROBI, June 20 — Africa's push for local currency payments systems — once little more than an aspiration — is finally making concrete gains, bringing the promise of less costly trade to a continent long hobbled by resource-sapping dollar transactions. But efforts to move away from the dollar face strong opposition and the threat of retaliation from US President Donald Trump, who is determined to preserve it as the dominant currency for global trade. The move by Africa to create payments systems that do not rely on the greenback mirrors a push by China to develop financial systems independent of Western institutions. Countries like Russia, which face economic sanctions, are also keen for an alternative to the dollar. But while that movement has gained a sense of urgency due to shifting trade patterns and geopolitical realignments following President Trump's return to the White House, African advocates for payment alternatives are making their case based on costs. 'Our goal, contrary to what people might think, is not de-dollarisation,' said Mike Ogbalu, chief executive of the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System, which allows parties to transact directly in local currencies, bypassing the dollar. 'If you look at African economies, you'll find that they struggle with availability for third-party global currencies to settle transactions,' he said. Africa's commercial banks typically rely on overseas counterparts, through so-called correspondent banking relationships, to facilitate settlements of international payments. That includes payments between African neighbours. That adds significantly to transaction costs that, along with other factors like poor transport infrastructure, have made trade in Africa 50 per cent more expensive than the global average, according to the UN Trade and Development agency. It is also among the reasons so much of Africa's trade — 84 per cent, according to a report by Mauritius-based MCB Group — is with external partners rather than between African nations. 'The existing financial network that is largely dollar-based has essentially become less effective for Africa, and costlier,' said Daniel McDowell, a professor at Syracuse University in New York specialising in international finance. A man counts Nigerian naira notes in a market place as people struggle with the economic hardship and cashflow problems ahead of Nigeria's Presidential elections, in Yola, Nigeria, February 22, 2023. — Reuters pic Homegrown systems According to data compiled by PAPSS, under the existing system of correspondent banks, a US$200 million (RM851 million) trade between two parties in different African countries is estimated to cost 10 per cent to 30 per cent of the value of the deal. The shift to homegrown payments systems could cut the cost of that transaction to just 1 per cent. Systems like PAPSS allow a business in one country, Zambia for example, to pay for goods from another like Kenya, with both buyer and seller receiving payment in their respective currencies rather than converting them into dollars to complete the transaction. Using currencies like the Nigerian naira, Ghanaian cedi or South Africa's rand for intra-Africa trade payments could save the continent US$5 billion a year in hard currency, Ogbalu told Reuters. Launched in January 2022 with just 10 participating commercial banks, PAPSS is today operational in 15 countries including Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Tunisia, and now has 150 commercial banks in its network. 'We have also seen very significant growth in our transactions,' Ogbalu said, without providing usage data. The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector lending arm, has, meanwhile, started issuing loans to African businesses in local currencies. It views the switch as imperative for their growth, relieving them from the currency risks of borrowing in dollars, said Ethiopis Tafara, IFC's vice-president for Africa. 'If they are not generating hard currency, a hard-currency loan imposes a burden that makes it difficult for them to succeed,' he said. Africa's push for local currency payments systems is finally making concrete gains, bringing the promise of less costly trade to a continent long hobbled by resource-sapping dollar transactions. — Picture By Choo Choy May Geopolitics and the Trump factor Africa's campaign to boost regional payments systems has found a platform at the Group of 20 major economies, with South Africa leading the charge as holder of the G20's rotating presidency. It held at least one session on boosting regional payments systems when South Africa hosted a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. And South Africa wants it to follow up the talk with concrete actions. The next meeting of G20 finance officials is scheduled for mid-July. 'Some of the most expensive corridors for cross-border payments are actually found on the African continent,' Lesetja Kganyago, South Africa's central bank governor, told Reuters during a G20 meeting in Cape Town in February. 'For us to function as a continent, it's important that we start trading and settling in our own currencies.' Talk of moving away from the dollar — either for trade or as a reserve currency — has drawn aggressive reactions from President Trump, however. After Brics — a grouping of nations including Russia, China, India and Brazil along with Africans like South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia — weighed reducing dollar dependence and creating a common currency, Trump responded with threats of 100 per cent tariffs. 'There is no chance that Brics will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, or anywhere else, and any Country that tries should say hello to Tariffs, and goodbye to America!,' he wrote on Truth Social in January. In the months since, Trump has demonstrated his willingness to use tariffs to pressure and punish allies and foes alike, a strategy that has upended global trade and geopolitics. No matter its intentions in moving to more local currency transactions, Syracuse University's McDowell said Africa will struggle to distance itself from more politically motivated de-dollarisation efforts, like those led by China and Russia. 'The perception is likely to be that this is about geopolitics,' he said. — Reuters
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Missiles fly, airspace closes: Governments scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran
HONG KONG, June 19 — Governments around the world are evacuating thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot. Foreigners have rushed to leave both countries after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign last Friday targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities, sparking retaliation from Tehran. With Israel's air space closed and the two countries exchanging heavy missile fire, many people are being evacuated via neighbouring countries. People evacuated from Israel disembark from a plane, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, at Vasil Levski Sofia airport, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 18, 2025. — Bulgarian Foreign Ministry handout pic via Reuters Europe European countries have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens from Israel. The Czech Republic and Slovakia said Tuesday they had taken 181 people home on government planes. 'It was not possible to send the army plane straight to Israel,' the Czech defence ministry said in a statement, citing the air space closure. 'The evacuees were taken to an airport in a neighbouring country by buses. They crossed the border on foot.' The German government said flights were scheduled for yesterday and today via Jordan, while Poland said the first of its citizens were due to arrive back yesterday. Greece said it had repatriated 105 of its citizens plus a number of foreign nationals via Egypt, while a private plane with 148 people landed in the Bulgarian capital Sophia on Tuesday. United States The US ambassador to Israel yesterday announced plans for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy is 'working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures' for 'American citizens wanting to leave Israel,' Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on social media. China China has evacuated more than 1,600 citizens from Iran and several hundred more from Israel. The Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday its 'embassies and consulates will continue to make every effort to assist in the safe transfer and evacuation of Chinese citizens'. Australia Australia has started evacuating around 1,500 citizens from Iran and more than 1,200 from Israel — but missile barrages have made it too risky for civilian aircraft to land in either country, its foreign minister said. 'There's no capacity for people to get civilian aircraft in, it is too risky, and the airspace is closed,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong told national broadcaster ABC. 'We have taken the opportunity to get a small group of Australians out of Israel through a land border crossing. 'We are seeking to try and do more of that over the next 24 hours.' Pakistani pilgrims evacuated from Iran walk across the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, Balochistan province on June 18, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. — AFP pic Pakistan Pakistan has shut its border crossings with neighbouring Iran, except to Pakistanis wanting to return home. Around 1,000 Pakistanis have fled so far, including at least 200 students. The foreign ministry said the families of diplomats and some non-essential staff from Iran had been evacuated. India Around 110 students who fled Iran over the land border with Armenia have landed in New Delhi, a foreign ministry spokesperson said today. There are around 10,000 Indian citizens in Iran. In Israel there are around 30,000 Indians, according to the country's embassy in New Delhi. Japan Japan has ordered military planes to be on standby for around 1,000 Japanese nationals believed to live in Israel, and around 280 in Iran, according to government ministers. The Japanese embassies in Iran and Israel are preparing to use buses to evacuate citizens to neighbouring countries, a government spokesman said, as the war entered its seventh day. Indonesia Indonesia is preparing to evacuate around 380 of its citizens currently in Iran by land, Jakarta's foreign minister said today. 'Flights are no longer possible, so the only way is land route. It will start tonight,' Foreign Minister Sugiono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said in a video. Vietnam Vietnam, which has more than 700 citizens in Israel and dozens in Iran, said it was working to ensure their safety. The foreign ministry said today that 18 Vietnamese from Iran were evacuated, 16 of whom returned to Vietnam. It did not provide further information on evacuations from Israel. Philippines The Philippines is preparing to repatriate 28 Israel-based Filipino workers out of 178 who asked for help, the Department of Migrant Workers secretary Hans Cacdac said today. At least 21 Philippine government officials have also crossed into Jordan by land from Israel since the conflict began, the foreign ministry said. — AFP
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
KL masseuse pleads not guilty to posting fake marriage cert involving royalty on TikTok
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — A masseuse pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of uploading a video and a picture of a fake marriage certificate between a royal and herself last February. Persana Avril Sollunda, 43, is charged with making and sending a fake video on the TikTok application through the account ' showing a fake marriage certificate between a royal and Crown Princess Ratu Shana with the intention of hurting others last February 25. The post was read at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division, Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman Police Headquarters, Menara KPJ, near here at 10.00am last February 26. The charge, under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 [Act 588] and punishable under Section 233(3) of the same law, provides a maximum fine of RM500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both, upon conviction, and may be fined a further RM5,000 for each day or part of a day the offence continues after conviction. Judge Norma Ismail allowed the woman bail of RM10,000 with one surety and an order for her to report to a police station once a month pending disposal of the case. The court set July 17 for mention. The court had issued a warrant of arrest against Persana Avril last May 22 when she failed to turn up to face the charge. Deputy public prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman appeared for the prosecution today, while Persana Avril was unrepresented. — Bernama
