Nigerian Court Remands 16 Chinese Nationals In Prison Over Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned 16 additional Chinese nationals before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The accused individuals include Hu Hui (aka A Bin), Liao Ri Xing (aka Li Jun), Li Qiang (aka Yang Huan Huan), A Wen, Da Tou, Cheng Jian, Cong Bing, Fei Fan, Huxi Heng, Zheng Wei (aka A Hong), Huang Zhi, Zhang Lei, Sun Zhi Peng, Huang Jin Hui, Wù Hao, and Lu Qiang.
These individuals were among the 792 suspects arrested in Lagos on December 10, 2024, in a large-scale EFCC operation known as the “Eagle Flush Operation.”
The suspects were linked to various cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud schemes.
The defendants were arraigned on separate charges related to cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretences, advance fee fraud, and identity theft.
One of the charges against Li Qiang states: “That you, Li Qiang (a.k.a Yang Huan Huan) and Genting International Co. Ltd, sometime in December 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, caused to be accessed, a computer system used for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015.”
Similarly, a charge against Hu Xi Heng reads: “That you, Hu Xi Heng and Genting International Co. Ltd, sometime in December 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, caused to be accessed, a computer system used for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015.”
However, all the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges read against them.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel Nnaemeka Omewa requested the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Justice Osiagor subsequently adjourned the case to June 23, 2025, for trial and ordered that all defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending the trial proceedings.
The EFCC has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling cybercrimes and ensuring that perpetrators of financial fraud face justice.
