Foreign Nationals and Nigerian Collaborators Plead Not Guilty to Alleged Hacking Charges

Foreign nationals, mainly from China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, along with their Nigerian collaborators, have pleaded not guilty to charges related to cybercrimes and hacking that allegedly pose a threat to national security. The suspects were arraigned on Friday before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing a six-count charge filed by the Federal Government. The suspects were apprehended in a coordinated raid on a building in the Jahi area of Abuja, where they were allegedly using computers and advanced technology to carry out criminal activities. The operation, which took place on November 3, 2024, was led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7, AIG Benneth Igweh, with support from the Nigeria Police Force’s Zone 7 Command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC).