The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned nine Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
Lagos Zonal Directorate, on Thursday, arraigned the suspects on separate charges, including cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretenses, and identity theft.
The defendants—Su Dong Fu, Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao, and Yang Chen Cheng—were reportedly part of a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance fraudsters arrested during the EFCC’s ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ on December 10, 2024, in Lagos.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Zeng Xian Tao (a.k.a. A Tao and Zhou Tao) and Genting International Co. Limited, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems used for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as Amended, 2024) and Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel M.K. Bashir requested trial dates and urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Justice Aneke adjourned the case to February 21 and March 7, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The EFCC, Lagos State Zonal Directorate, had on Monday arraigned 29 Chinese nationals, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Pakistani before separate Federal High Courts in Ikoyi, Lagos for alleged internet fraud.
The suspects were arraigned alongside the company Genting International Co. Ltd. before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke.
The accused foreign nationals are part of a group of 792 individuals arrested by the anti-graft agency during operation “Eagle Flush” on December 19, 2024, in Lagos, targeting suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud.
The charges against the suspects include cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft, among others.
