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.
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 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.
They face separate charges, including cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretenses, and identity theft. One of the charges alleges that the defendants willfully caused computer systems to be accessed for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying Nigeria’s economy and social structure.
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. This development comes after the EFCC 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.
