The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned four Chinese nationals before Justices M. Kakaki and Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
According to the EFCC, the defendants are part of a 792-member syndicate involved in alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud. They were arrested in Lagos on December 10, 2024, during an operation named ‘Eagle Flush Operation.’
Three of the defendants, Xia Guang Can, Li Xu Xin, and Zhang Xue Hui, were arraigned on separate one-count charges before Justice Kakaki, while Lu Yubo faced a two-count charge before Justice Faji.
The charges against them include internet fraud, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretenses, advance fee fraud, and identity theft.
The charge against Hui reads, “That you, Zhang Xue Hui sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court cause to be accessed computer system used 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(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
One of the charges against Yubo reads, “That you, Lu Yubo and Genting International Co. Limited, adult, on or about the 11th 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, a computer system which was organized to seriously destabilize the economic and social structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by procuring and employing 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 and Prevention, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 (as amended).”
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their plea, the prosecution counsels, Fanen Anum and Ahmed Yerima, asked the court respectively for a trial date.
The prosecution counsels also asked the court to remand the defendants at a correctional centre, while counsel for the defendants prayed for a short adjournment to file their bail applications.
Justice Kakaki adjourned till March 18, 2025 for trial, and ordered that the three defendants be remanded in a correctional centre.
Justice Faji adjourned till March 31 and April 3, 2025 for trial, and ordered that Yubo be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
