EFCC secures forfeiture of 431 phones from Chinese fraud convicts

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving convicted Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the forfeiture was secured by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu granted the order following an application filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa.

The court had earlier issued an interim forfeiture order on July 8 and directed the EFCC to publish the notice in a national newspaper, giving interested individuals or entities an opportunity to challenge the proposed permanent forfeiture.

While seeking the final order, Kofarnaisa told the court that the EFCC had complied with the directive by publishing the notice in The Guardian on August 11.

She said no person or organisation came forward to contest the forfeiture within the period stipulated by the court.

An affidavit filed by an EFCC investigating officer, Christopher Augustine, said the 431 phones were recovered in connection with a cyber-fraud operation allegedly conducted at a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The EFCC said the facility was allegedly used to train and deploy Nigerian youths and foreign nationals for romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe.

The investigation followed a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of suspects, including Chinese and other foreign nationals as well as Nigerians.

The commission said Genting International Company Limited, allegedly controlled by Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and other foreign nationals, was linked to the operation.

Huang and the company were subsequently charged with seven counts, including cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering.

The EFCC said Huang and Genting International Company Limited pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced by the court.

The commission argued that the 431 mobile phones were reasonably suspected to be proceeds or instruments of unlawful activities and were therefore liable to forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

After considering the submissions and evidence before the court, Justice Dipeolu found merit in the application and ordered the final forfeiture of the 431 phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.