Court Remands 11 Chinese, Filipino Nationals in Lagos Prisons Over Alleged Internet Fraud

A Lagos court has ordered the remand of 11 Chinese and Filipino nationals in Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons over alleged involvement in internet fraud.

On Friday, January 31, 2025, the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against Genting International Co. Ltd., a company including 11 Chinese nationals and one Filipino individual before Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos for alleged internet fraud.

The defendants, including 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 were charged as members of a syndicate comprising 792 suspects. They were arrested on December 19th during an EFCC operation codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation.”

As stated in an EFCC announcement released on Friday, the defendants faced separate charges for cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, identity theft, and possessing documents with false pretenses.

One of the charges states: “On or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos—within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court—you, LI YIN HUI and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, knowingly accessed computer systems organized to significantly disrupt Nigeria’s constitutional framework (which prohibits cybercrimes). You did so by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft and encouraging them to impersonate individuals of foreign nationality with intent to secure financial benefits for yourselves. This act constitutes an offense contrary to and punishable under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act of 2015 as amended in 2024.”

Another charge alleges that LUO JIA YOU, also known as A. YOU, in December 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria—within this Honourable Court’s jurisdiction—intentionally provided false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during an investigation. This occurred while you were being interrogated for allegedly participating in a criminal syndicate involved in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, cyber terrorism among other activities. To mislead the officers, you falsely identified yourself as A. YOU thereby committing an offence against Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act of 2004 which is punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.

Another accusation claims:

In December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court in Lagos, you, LONG SHAO MING A.K.A LING YANG, knowingly possessed documents with false pretenses intending to defraud. These documents falsely represented you as “Linda Maureen,” a citizen of the United States of America. This act constitutes an offense contrary to Section 6 and is punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

The defendants entered pleas of “not guilty” to all charges when they were presented in court.

After the defendants entered their pleas, prosecution counsels L.P. Aso, M.K. Bashir, T.J. Banjo, N.K. Ukoha, and B. Buhari-Bala requested trial dates and urged the court to remand them in suitable correctional facilities.

Justice Dipeolu scheduled the trial for February 7, 14, and 21, 2025. Meanwhile, he ordered that the defendants be held in custody at Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.