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 crimes related to 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 brought before the court on the same day by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), facing individual charges for possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the charges stated: “That you, Anjeanette Topacio, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally accessed computer systems designed to significantly disrupt and damage Nigeria’s core economic and social structures by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonation as foreigners for financial gain, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge read: “That you, Shairah May Reyes, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were found in possession of a document printed from Telegram containing false information, wherein you claimed to be a woman residing in the UK — a claim you knew to be untrue — thereby committing 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.”
All twelve defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, prosecuting counsels N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa requested the court to convict the defendants according to the terms of the plea bargains reached with the EFCC.
Justice Bogoro sentenced each of the defendants to one year in prison and imposed a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira).
The judge further directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to ensure that the convicts are deported to the Philippines within seven days after completing their prison terms.
Additionally, all electronic devices recovered from the defendants were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
