A Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded 11 Chinese nationals, one Filipino, and a company, Genting International Co. Limited, on charges of cybercrime, impersonation, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on Friday.
The defendants are Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xian Hong Will, Zhang Xiao Lei, Long Zhao Ming, Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng, Chen Wenyuan, Liu San Hua, Luo Jia You, and Rheign Dela Vega.
They are part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested during a surprise operation, “Eagle Flush Operation,” carried out by EFCC operatives on December 19, 2024, in Lagos.
The suspects were arraigned on separate charges related to cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretenses, and identity theft. One of the charges reads:
“That you, Li Yin Hui and Genting International Co. Limited, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully accessed computer systems organized to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves. This constitutes an offense punishable under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
Another charge accuses Luo Jia You of giving false information to EFCC officers during their investigation of the criminal syndicate, which specialized in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and cyber terrorism. He falsely represented his name as “A. You” to mislead the investigation, violating Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.
A further charge against Long Shao Ming (aka Ling Yang) states that he possessed documents containing false pretenses, in which he posed as “Linda Maureen,” a U.S. citizen, intending to defraud others. This violated Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. In response, prosecution counsel—L.P. Aso, M.K. Bashir, T.J. Banjo, N.K. Ukoha, and B. Buhari-Bala—requested trial dates and the remand of the defendants in appropriate correctional facilities.
One defendant, Liu San Hua, is specifically accused of hiring Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain.
The court ordered the two female defendants to be remanded at Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, while the remaining defendants were sent to Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 7, 14, and 21, 2025, for trial, and remanded the defendants in custody until then.
