The foreign national in court
By Victory Oghene
The Nigeria Police Force have arrested 109 foreign nationals for high-level cybercrimes, hacking, money laundering and activities that threaten Nigeria’s national security.
The foreign nationals were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja and granted bail to the tune of N1billion.
The presiding judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, held that the defendants should produce five sureties to tune of N200 million each, in like sum.
According to the presiding judge, each surety is expected to have a landed property in like sum of N200 million and should deposit their recent passport photograph to the court.
The defendants are also expected to deposit their international passports with the Registrar of the Federal High Court in Maitama.
It would be recalled that the 109 defendants had earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the six-count charge levelled against them but Justice Akpan took a short recess to rule on their bail application filed by their counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN.
The court ordered that the 109 foreigners linked to high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities threatening national security be remanded in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities until the next adjourned date (yesterday)
Counsel to some of the defendants, Ogwu Onoja, had told the court that there was need to have interpreters who would be present in court during proceedings for the sake of those who do not understand spoken English.
Counsel to the Brazilian defendants, Eric Oba, also asked the court to separate his clients from other defendants, but the court declined, noting that arraignment had not been done.
After listening to the submission of the lawyers in the suit, the trial judge had adjourned the case to November 29, for arraignment.
The defendants, who were identified as citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, are facing a six-count charge that was entered against them by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to police, the defendants were arrested at a building situated at plot 1906, Cadestral Zone 807, Katampe District of Abuja, where they were said to be engaging in cybercrime.
Aside from cybercrime, the defendants were also charged for money laundering and an allegation that they were residing in Nigeria, illegally.
