The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, February 21, 2025, arraigned 17 more Chinese and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice Musa Kakaki and Justice Daniel Osiagor, both of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for fraud.
They
are:
Mao
Bu
Yi,
Li
Xiang
Long,
Dai
Li,
Yu
Hai
Qing,
Jia
Yang,
Jia
Zhi,
Hao
Tao
Kun,
Liu
Chuang,
Zhao
Xiao
Liang, Ziao
Zi
Cheng,
Zhang
San
Feng,
Li
Zhong
Chan,
Chen
Gui
Ping,
Su
Jan
Fu,
Su
Zong
Gen,
Wang
Jie,
and
Zeng
Zerong.
The defendants are among the 792-member cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 10, 2024, in a sting operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by EFCC operatives.
They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cyber-terrorism, cybercrime, possession of documents containing false pretence, and identity theft.
While Jie and Zerong were arraigned before Justice Kakaki, the remaining15 were arraigned before Justice Osiagor.
The charge against Yi reads: “That you, Mao Bu Yi and Genting International Co. Limited sometimes in December 2024 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court, willfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the Economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc} Act, 2015 (as Amended, 2024).”
The charge against Jie reads: “That you, Wang Jie (a.k.a. Xu Zhong Xiang) and Genting International Co. Limited, sometime between the 29th of November, 2024 and 10th of December, 2024 at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems which were organized to destabilized the social and economic structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when you secretly procured and employed several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer related fraud, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 As amended).”
They
all pleaded
“not
guilty”
to
the
charges,
following
which
prosecution
counsel,
M.S.
Owede,
T.J.
Banjo,
A.C.
Olowonihi,
and
N.C.
Mutfwang
asked
the
courts for
trial
dates
and
for
the
defendants
to
be
remanded
in
the
appropriate
correctional
center.
While Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter till March 20, 2025 for trial, Justice Osiagor adjourned till June 11, 2025 for trial. They were all ordered to be remanded in the correctional centre.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 21, 2025
Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate