A Chinese national, Liu Beixiang, also known as Lao Liu, was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday for allegedly misleading a government official during an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Liu is facing a one-count charge for knowingly providing false information to an EFCC officer while the officer was performing official duties. The incident reportedly occurred in December 2024 when Liu allegedly gave misleading information to an EFCC official.
The charge against Liu, which was read to him in court, states that his actions violated the law under Section 16 (1) of the EFCC Act, 2004. Liu pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was presented by the prosecution.
During the court proceedings, prosecution counsel Babatunde Sonoiki requested that the court set a trial date and also asked for Liu to be remanded in a correctional facility until the trial begins.
In response, Liu’s defense lawyer, F.A. Dalmeda, informed the court that his team had already filed a plea bargain application with the EFCC. He also mentioned that a motion for bail had been submitted earlier in the day and that the anti-graft agency had responded to it.
Dalmeda noted, “We filed an application for a plea bargain, and we have also filed a motion for bail, which the EFCC responded to this morning. We need a date for us to report on the plea bargain.”
After hearing both sides, Justice Ayokunle Faji adjourned the matter until June 23, 2025, for a progress report on the plea bargain. The judge also ordered that Liu be remanded in a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
