After initial delays due to the court backlog, Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja allowed the police to arraign 130 people in one fell swoop on a cybercrime charge. Among the defendants were some 110 Chinese nationals who claimed not to understand English when the charges were read to them.
The authorities had to enlist an interpreter to read all the charges to the defendants, who subsequently pleaded not guilty. After this arduous process, the court ordered that the defendants, who lacked legal representation, remain in police custody pending a bail hearing.
Meanwhile, as the police worked to address the language barrier and determine the best approach to prosecute the case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the arrest of 792 suspects linked to cryptocurrency fraud and romance scams. Among these, at least 148 were Chinese nationals apprehended at an office building in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the EFCC, the Chinese nationals — identified as the ringleaders — used the facility, which resembled the corporate headquarters of a financial institution, to train their Nigerian accomplices on how to execute romance and investment scams.
Haven of fraud?
The agency further said the Chinese nationals used the identities of their Nigerian accomplices to carry out their criminal activities.
“Foreigners are exploiting our nation’s unfortunate reputation as a haven for fraud to establish a foothold and disguise their nefarious enterprises. However, as this operation has demonstrated, there will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,” the anti-corruption watchdog said.
Investigators told The Africa Report that representatives of the Chinese government have been meeting with police authorities following the large-scale arrests of their citizens in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the authorities continue to make arrests on an almost daily basis.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Nigeria did not respond to inquiries.
Chinese influx
Since 2001, when Nigeria and China signed an agreement for the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, trade between the two countries has grown significantly, peaking at $22.6bn, making China Nigeria’s largest trading partner.
The presence of Chinese firms has also led to an influx of Chinese nationals in Nigeria. When Nigeria secures loans from China to build infrastructure, the contracts for these projects are often awarded to Chinese firms, which subsequently bring in their citizens to execute the work.
The state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) handles the majority of these projects, valued at billions of dollars.
We have reported these issues to the government, but they seem uninterested in deportations or visa reforms
For Chinese workers to be legally employed in Nigeria, companies are required to obtain an expatriate quota from the Nigerian Immigration Service for a fee. They then assist the workers in obtaining visas and permits, a process that is often tedious.
However, there is an alternative route. Companies can request immigration authorities to approve a visa on arrival for their staff, with the assurance that the individual will leave Nigeria within a month.
In practice, though, after the visa expires, many workers remain in the country. Immigration officials, who are responsible for deporting them, often turn a blind eye once bribes have been exchanged, an immigration consultant said.
Illegal work
Police sources have informed The Africa Report that all the Chinese citizens arrested so far are illegal immigrants. However, Nigerian authorities have refrained from conducting mass deportations due to the country’s pursuit of Chinese support.
Nigeria’s parliament had previously urged immigration authorities to undertake mass deportations of Chinese citizens and even threatened to enact legislation to enforce this. However, these calls were ignored.
“Nigeria is seeking China’s support to join the G20 and become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Additionally, Nigeria wants China to lift all tariffs on its goods. We have reported these issues to the government, but they seem uninterested in deportations or visa reforms,” said an investigator who requested anonymity due to fear of retribution.
The investigator also revealed to The Africa Report that at least 4,000 foreign telephone lines, used for fraudulent activities, had been confiscated from Chinese citizens.
Law enforcement officials remain uncertain about how to proceed with prosecuting those in custody, as the Nigerian government has not demonstrated a serious commitment to addressing the matter.
“Yes, the race for foreign investments has opened our doors — especially with the president actively touring the world in search of investments — but that doesn’t mean we are inviting unscrupulous elements to enter,” said Mike Ejiofor, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s secret police.
Ejiofor added that, since these individuals enter legally, immigration authorities should be able to track their activities more effectively.
Bad eggs
A spokesperson for the Nigerian Immigration Service promised to respond to an inquiry but had failed to do so at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, an official from the ministry of foreign affairs did not respond to inquiries. However, minister Yusuf Tuggar, speaking to local media shortly after meeting with his Chinese counterpart earlier in January, said it would be wrong to demonise the Chinese, pointing out that Nigerians were not without fault.
“We shouldn’t single out China and say everything they’re doing is bad. Suffice it to say, Chinese citizens are doing more good than harm in Nigeria. There are bad eggs everywhere. China is a country of 1.4 billion people, and there will inevitably be some bad actors,” Tuggar said.
Earlier this month, Tuggar met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Xi, to discuss the possibility of Nigeria securing a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The discussions also touched on the increasing Chinese presence in Nigeria.
Tuggar urged Nigerians to focus on the positive contributions of the Chinese in areas such as “investing in our economy, creating jobs, and developing infrastructure.”
Immigration lapses
The Nigerian parliament has raised concerns about the situation, accusing immigration authorities of failing in their responsibilities.
Adams Oshiomhole, who heads the Senate Committee on Interior, emphasised the need for immigration to curb the influx of foreign workers, particularly the Chinese.
“Chinese nationals are being arrested for Yahoo (fraud) activities. They entered the country with permits. These are serious issues that need to be addressed,” said Oshiomhole, a former leader of organised labour.
Interior minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that 90% of expatriates in Nigeria lack proper work permits and noted that reforms are being introduced to address the problem.
However, Chika Mbonu told The Africa Report that the blame lies with Nigeria rather than foreign nationals.
Mbonu, who helped fund the establishment of China Towns in the early 2000s, said immigration authorities must monitor and regulate the activities of foreigners entering the country.
“This reflects more on our immigration system in Nigeria than on China,” said Mbonu, the former CEO of the now-defunct Citizens International Bank.
