Nigeria and China have agreed to cooperate in addressing the growing number of Chinese nationals involved in financial crimes within Nigeria. The announcement follows a visit by Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, where both countries discussed increasing efforts to tackle cybercrime, telecom fraud, and illegal mining by Chinese nationals.
Since November 2024, Nigerian authorities have arrested over 400 Chinese nationals suspected of engaging in illicit activities. Many are currently facing trial. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for China to exert undue influence on the legal process. Nigerian political analyst Chukwudi Odoeme warned that China’s involvement could compromise Nigeria’s judicial independence, potentially leading to political releases rather than fair trials.
China is Nigeria’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $5 billion in 2023, while Nigeria’s debt to China exceeds $5 billion. Critics argue that Chinese nationals are exploiting trade and immigration routes to engage in criminal activity in Nigeria.
The cooperation between both nations aims to strengthen enforcement and address these rising concerns, but the involvement of China in the process continues to stir debate regarding its impact on Nigeria’s legal system.
