JUST IN: Lagos Court Orders Deportation of Four Filipinos Convicted of Cyberterrorism and Internet Fraud

In a ruling that stunned the courtroom and sent ripples through Nigeria’s cybercrime enforcement community, a Lagos court has ordered the immediate deportation of four Filipino nationals convicted of cyberterrorism and internet fraud.

The defendants, whose activities had been under investigation by Nigerian security agencies for months, were found guilty of orchestrating a sophisticated online fraud ring that targeted both local and international victims.

Sources close to the prosecution described the operation as "digital terrorism" — a carefully coordinated network of malware, phishing schemes, and data breaches that compromised sensitive infrastructures.

During proceedings, the court heard chilling evidence of how the accused leveraged advanced hacking tools and offshore networks to siphon funds, harvest personal data, and disrupt digital platforms across West Africa.

Cybersecurity experts who testified revealed that the Filipinos had embedded themselves in Lagos' tech underground, disguising their operations behind legitimate business fronts.

The judge, delivering a firm verdict, condemned their actions as “an assault on national security and public trust,” emphasizing that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for foreign cybercriminals.

In addition to their conviction, the court ordered that the quartet be deported from Nigeria immediately upon completion of their custodial terms.

As of press time, officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed preparations are underway to facilitate their deportation in coordination with the Philippine embassy.

The case marks one of the most high-profile convictions of foreign nationals for cybercrime in Nigeria’s history and sends a clear message: the country is tightening its grip on the digital underworld.