The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Pakistani before separate the Federal High Courts sitting in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
They were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke, respectively.
The suspects are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during an operation tagged, Eagle Flush Operation”, by the operatives of the EFCC.
They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.
The defendants are: Zhang Hua Zhai; Chen Xin; Li Zhen Peng; Guo Long Long ; Ren Jia Wen; Zhang Jian; Zhao Ying Bin; Yu Zi, (a.k.a.Wei Xue Huan); Zhang Yang; Wang Zhi Chenge; Cherry De Leon (a.k.a. Yeah De Leon); Khurram Shanzad; Fernand Fu Fang (a.k.a. Kim); Tan Soon Kar; Rex Jose Dilag (a.k.a. Madison); Jamal Polea; Kamilu Jayne Gongzalez (a.k.a Jam Galanza); Hannah Jaramillo (a.k.a Max Deleon); Danica Manulit (a.k.a. Dan Ruiz); Vera Dela Cris (a.k.a Nina Vera Gonzal); Joey Gracia; Beverlyn Gumayo Casino (a.k.a. Veb Sumayo) and Tricia Jenylyn Castro (a.k.a. T. J. Castrol).
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Others include An Hongxu; Shitou Shizilong; Pan Jiong; Wanq Jia Qi; Huang Xiao Liang; Guo Giang; Wen Zong Xu; Zhon Kun Li; Huang Ren Jian; Li Jin; Deng Wen Qiang; Lu Yi Liang; Pan Cai Yu; Peng Li Jain (a.k.a. Han Li Jaun); He Kun; Zhao Jin Rong; Lin Hao Bo; Chen Fusheng and Xiang Bing.
One of the counts reads: “That you, ZHANG HUA ZHAI 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).”
They each pleaded not guilty to the offences when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, 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, prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in the appropriate correctional centres.
Justice Faji adjourned the matter till February 10, 11, 17, 18, and 19 2025.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till February 7, 15, 21, 24, and 28; Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 20, 21, 24, 28, and March 18, 2025; while Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till March 7, 2025, for trial and remanded the defendants at Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.
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