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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja.
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Friday granted bail to 109 foreign nationals allegedly involved in high-level cybercrimes, hacking and activities that threaten national security.
They were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police IGP on six counts bordering on Cybercrimes allegedly committed in Abuja in 2024.
The Nigeria Police Force had arrested the suspects in an operation that was conducted through a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja.
The suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.
However, the defendants who are mainly Chinese, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand nationals pleaded not guilty to the the charges.
They were granted bail following the application to that effect argued on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Ogwu James Onoja.
Justice Ekerete Akpan ordered that all the 109 defendants are to produce five sureties in the the sum of N200m each for the five sureties.
The sureties must in addition be residents in Abuja and must each have landed property worth N200m.
They are to also swear to affidavit of means and submit to the court, original copies of documents of their properties which shall be verified by the Registrar of the court.
Justice Akpan further ordered that the accused persons and their five sureties must submit all their original travelling documents with the court registrar and must not travel out of Nigeria throughout the period of their trial.
The defendants and sureties are to also submit two copies of their recent passport photograph with the court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Akpan ordered that the males among the accused persons be remanded at Kuje prison while the female ones are to be kept at Keffi prison in Nasarawa state.
Meanwhile Justice Akpan has fixed February 27 next year for their trial.
The Inspector General of Police was represented at the proceedings by lawyer A. S Egwu who vehemently objected to the bail of the accused persons through a counter affidavit.
His objection did not stand on the ground that grant of bail is at the discretion of the court and the nature of charges against the defendants.
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