Court remands 11 Chinese,  Filipino nationals in Ikoyi, Kirikiri prisons over alleged  internet fraud In Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, January 31, 2025, arraigned 11 Chinese nationals, one Filipino, and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged internet fraud.

The defendants—Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xian Hong Will, Zhang Xiao Lei, Long Zhao Ming, Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng, Chen Wenyuan, Liu San Hua, Luo Jia You, and Rheign Dela Vega—were charged as part of a syndicate of 792 suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, during a surprise operation codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation” by EFCC operatives.

According to an EFCC statement issued on Friday, the accused individuals were arraigned on separate charges related to cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, identity theft, and possession of documents containing false pretenses.

One of the charges reads:”That you, LI YIN HUI 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 states: “That you, LUO JIA YOU (AKA A. YOU) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of investigation when you were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialized in Romance scam, cryptocurrency fraud, cyber terrorism amongst others; and in order to mislead them, you falsely represented your name as A. YOU and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Another charge alleges:
“That you, LONG SHAO MING A.K.A LING YANG, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents containing false pretence, wherein you held yourself out as ‘Linda Maureen’, a citizen of the United States of America, which document you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and punishable under 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges when they were read in court.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel L.P. Aso, M.K. Bashir, T.J. Banjo, N.K. Ukoha, and B. Buhari-Bala requested trial dates and urged the court to remand the defendants in appropriate correctional facilities.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 7, 14, and 21, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.