The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian and one Pakistani before separate Federal High Courts sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
This is just as the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order for digital assets valued at $222,729.86, tied to fraudulent activities, allegedly, involving the Chinese and Filipino nationals.
They were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justices Ayokunle Faji ; D.I. Dipeolu; Alexander Owoeye and C.J. Aneke, respectively.
The suspects are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC.
The order was granted by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 2, 2025.
The forfeiture order followed a motion filed by Zeenat Atiku, a prosecutor with EFCC, under Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advanced Free Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14, 2016.
The court also directed EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, allowing anyone with an interest in the assets to challenge the forfeiture within 14 days.
According to a deposition by EFCC investigator, Owolabi Taiwo, the commission received intelligence about a large-scale fraud operation involving foreign nationals based in Lagos.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of 792 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of approximately 1,000 routers, SIM cards, computers, and mobile phones, the commission said.
It said further investigation revealed that the suspects were part of a syndicate engaged in cryptocurrency fraud and dating scams, with operations financed through Genting International Co. Limited (GICL), a Nigerian-registered company.
The syndicate laundered illicit funds, including over $2.39 million in USDT, through peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading.
The funds were traced to wallet addresses connected to fraudulent schemes, including Conti.vip.
The foreign nationals were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.
The defendants are: Zhang Hua Zhai; Chen Xin; Li Zhen Peng; Guo Long Long ; Ren Jia Wen; Zhang Jian; Zhao Ying Bin; Yu Zi, (a.k.a.Wei Xue Huan); Zhang Yang; Wang Zhi Chenge; Cherry De Leon (a.k.a. Yeah De Leon); Khurram Shanzad; Fernand Fu Fang (a.k.a. Kim); Tan Soon Kar; Rex Jose Dilag (a.k.a. Madison); Jamal Polea; Kamilu Jayne Gongzalez (a.k.a Jam Galanza); Hannah Jaramillo (a.k.a Max Deleon); Danica Manulit (a.k.a. Dan Ruiz); Vera Dela Cris (a.k.a Nina Vera Gonzal); Joey Gracia; Beverlyn Gumayo Casino (a.k.a. Veb Sumayo) and Tricia Jenylyn Castro (a.k.a. T. J. Castrol).
Others are: An Hongxu; Shitou Shizilong; Pan Jiong; Wanq Jia Qi; Huang Xiao Liang; Guo Giang; Wen Zong Xu; Zhon Kun Li; Huang Ren Jian; Li Jin; Deng Wen Qiang; Lu Yi Liang; Pan Cai Yu; Peng Li Jain (a.k.a. Han Li Jaun); He Kun; Zhao Jin Rong; Lin Hao Bo; Chen Fusheng and Xiang Bing.
One of the counts reads: “That you, ZHANG HUA ZHAI and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, on or about the 18th of December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
Another count reads: “ That you, VIERA DELA CRUZ (A.K.A NINA VIERA GONZAL) & GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD., sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber related cries) when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18
of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024)”.
Another count reads: “That you, Shitou Shizilong and Genting International Co. Limited, on or about the 11th December, 2024 at No.7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, wilfully caused to be accessed, a computer system which was organized to seriously destabilize the economic and social structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by procuring and employing several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer related fraud, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 (as amended).”
Another count reads: “That you, PENG LI JAUN A.K.A HAN LI JAUN and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, sometime in December, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, wilfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
They each pleaded not guilty to the offences when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, L.P. Aso, M.K. Bashir, N. K. Ukoha, T.J. Banjo, M. S. Owede, B.B. Buhari, C.C.Okezie, H.U. Kofarnaisa and Z.B.Atiku, respectively prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in the appropriate correctional centres.
Justice Faji adjourned the matter till February 10, 11, 17, 18, 19 and 2025.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till February 7, 15, 21, 24 and 28, 2025; Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 20, 21, 24, 28 and March 18, 2025; and Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till March 7, 2025, for trial and remanded the defendants at both Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.