Tag: Chinese nationals

In the ongoing criminal case involving Chinese nationals accused of operating a Ponzi scam illegally, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of 11 more Chinese nationals at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. 

They are facing charges of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, issued the remand order on Tuesday after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The defendants are Wang Xiong Wei (A.K.A. Xiao Bai), Chen Dong Dong (A.K.A. Cun Zhao), Chen Yuan (A.K.A. Xiao Doa), Wu Yuan An ( A.K.A. Zeng Niu), Wang Gong Lin ( A.K.A. Wang Jing Lin) and Weng Mao Rong (A.K.A. A Xiang).

They were arraigned on separate charges bordering bordering on alleged  cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.

The defendants were accused of secretly procured and employed several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer related fraud.

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Five other Chinese nationals who were charged together before the court included Liu Ke Fan (A.K.A. Lina, Lui Chen), Huang Hai Tao, Zhang Jian Feng, Wu A Wang and Xiao Xin.

In the charge where there are five defendants, the first defendant Liu Ke Fan was arraigned on three counts, while the second to fifth defendants were arraigned only on a count.

In the  second count against  Liu Ke Fan, EFCC, told the court that the defendant sometime in December 2024, with intent to gain advantage for himself and members of his criminal syndicate group that specialised in romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism amongst others, domiciled at No 7, Oyinjolayemi Street in Victoria Island, fraudulently impersonated a 28 year old Lina, from United States of America living in Germany by holding himself out as such to unsuspecting victims via a fraudulent profile on his company’s assigned Maya desktop computer.

He was also accused of willfully giving false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of investigation when they were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialized in Romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism amongst others, and in order to mislead them falsely presented himself as Liu Chen.

They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud.

The defendants were arrested on December 19, 2024 in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC.

EFCC told the court that on or about December 18, 2024 in Lagos, the defendants, willfully caused to be accessed computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves (Nigerians) out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for themselves (The defendants ).

The Commission also told the court that sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, the defendants willfully gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of investigation when they were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialized in Romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism amongst others.

According to EFCC, the offence committed is contrary to Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended,2024), 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2) (b) of the same Act.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The defendants were arraigned by EFCC team of prosecutors M. K. Bashir and R. A. Abdulrasheed.

After taking their pleas, Justice Aneke, ordered that they be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending their trial.

The case was adjourned till February 21 and March 7, 2025.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded 13 Chinese nationals over allegations of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

The judge ordered the remand of the defendants after they pleaded not guilty to the various charges filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The defendants were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Limited.

The individuals facing prosecution include Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (aka Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (aka You), Zhang Xiao Lei, Liu San Hua, Chen Wenyuan (aka Lee05mx20), Yang Sheng (Madison), and Rheeigh De La Vega (aka Rheignalyn).

The accused individuals were among a group of suspected fraudsters apprehended on December 10, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at their hideout on No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence gathered by the EFCC.

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The EFCC’s legal team , consisting of Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Aso Larry Peters, TJ Banjo, M.K. Bashir, and I.N. Ukoha, presented the charges, citing violations of Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

Specifically, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala arraigned the 1st, 4th, and 6th defendants; Aso Larry Peters arraigned the 5th, 7th, and 8th defendants; TJ Banjo arraigned the 9th and 10th defendants; M.K. Bashir arraigned the 11th and 12th defendants; and I.N. Ukoha arraigned the 13th defendant.

After the charges were read to each defendant individually, all except Wang Zheng Ming pleaded not guilty.

Wang Zheng Ming rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer and requested time to hire his own legal representation.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 3, 14, and 21 for trial and ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centres. 

The two female defendants were remanded in the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, while the others were taken to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

One of the defendants, Liu San Hua, was accused of facilitating identity theft by hiring Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals with the intent to gain financial advantage. This action violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

Several charges also include allegations of using fake identities online to defraud victims, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and other related offenses under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act, 2006.

According to the EFCC, the charges highlight serious offenses aimed at undermining Nigeria’s security and financial integrity through cybercrime and fraud.

Some of the specific charges read as follows: “That you, San Hua and Genting International Co. Limited, in December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully accessed computer systems organized to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft, causing them to impersonate foreign nationals with the intent to gain financial advantage. This constitutes an offense under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”

“That you, Zhang Xiao Lei and Genting International Co. Limited, in December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully accessed computer systems organized to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft, causing them to impersonate foreign nationals with the intent to gain financial advantage. This constitutes an offense under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”

“That you, Wang Zheng Feng (aka A. Feng), in December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully accessed computer systems used to destabilize Nigeria’s economy and social structure. You thereby committed an offense under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024) and Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

“That you, Luo Jia You (aka You), in December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, gave false information to officers of the EFCC during an investigation. You misrepresented your name as A. YOU to mislead officers while being questioned for involvement in a criminal syndicate specializing in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and cyber terrorism. This constitutes an offense under Section 39(2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and is punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.”