42 individuals, including 29 Chinese nationals, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, an Indonesian, and a Pakistani, have been remanded in Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres in Lagos State. The Federal High Courts in Ikoyi ordered their remand on Monday following their arraignment by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendants were arrested during an EFCC operation known as “Eagle Flush Operation” on December 19, 2024. They are accused of participating in a syndicate of 792 individuals allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud. The suspects were charged with various offences, including cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft.
The EFCC noted that the suspects were arraigned alongside Genting International Company Limited before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke.
One of the charges states, “That you, Zhang Hua Zhai and Genting International Co. Limited, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable 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 charge reads, “That you, Viera Dela Cruz (aka Nina Viera Gonzal) and Genting International Co. Ltd., sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber 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 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).”
When the charges were read, all the defendants pleaded not guilty. In response, prosecution lawyers 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 requested trial dates and asked the court to remand the suspects in the appropriate correctional facilities.
Justice Ayokunle Faji scheduled the trial for February 10, 11, 17, 18, and 19, 2025. Justice Dipeolu set hearing dates for February 7, 15, 21, 24, and 28, while Justice Owoeye fixed the matter for February 20, 21, 24, 28, and March 18, 2025. Justice Aneke adjourned the case until March 7, 2025.
