The Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the arraignment of 133 foreign nationals accused of high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities deemed to endanger national security.

Justice Ekerete Akpan adjourned the proceedings, originally scheduled for Thursday, due to the absence of defense counsel for the suspects.

The court fixed the new arraignment date to November 22 to allow the defendants to secure legal representation.

The suspects are to remain in police custody until the next hearing and face a six-count charge of cybercrime.

The suspects include 113 foreign nationals—87 men and 26 women—from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and Malaysia, along with 17 Nigerian accomplices.

The defendants were apprehended on November 3, 2024, in a coordinated raid on the Jahi area of Abuja, where they were allegedly involved in criminal operations using computers and advanced technology.

The operation was led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7, Abuja, AIG Benneth Igweh, and involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force Zone 7 Command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC).

One of the charges accuses the suspects of overstaying their 30-day business permits without valid residence or visa status, an offense under Section 4(2) and punishable under Section 44(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.

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Another count alleges that the suspects promoted a fraudulent online gambling platform through electronic messaging with the intent to deceive, resulting in significant financial losses.