“42 Foreigners Remanded Over Cyber Fraud” — Chinese, Filipino Suspects Held In Lagos Prisons

They were arraigned on Monday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before four judges of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.

The suspects, alongside a company, Genting International Company Limited, were charged with various offences, including cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence, and identity theft. They were arrested on December 19, 2024, during an EFCC operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation,” which targeted a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects.

The defendants, including Zhang Zhai, Chen Xin, Li Peng, Guo Long, Ren Wen, Zhang Jian, Zhao Bin, Zhang Yang, Wang Chenge, Khurram Shanzad, Tan Kar, An Hongxu, Shitou Shizilong, and Pan Jiong, were arraigned before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke.

One of the counts read:
“That you, Zhang Hua Zhai and Genting International Co. Limited, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, 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 you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”

Another count accused Viera Dela Cruz (aka Nina Viera Gonzal) and Genting International Co. Ltd. of similar offences, including employing Nigerian youths for identity theft to pose as foreign nationals for financial gain.

When the charges were read to them, all the defendants pleaded not guilty. In response, the prosecution counsel, including L.P. Aso, M.K. Bashir, N.K. Ukoha, T.J. Banjo, M.S. Owede, B.B. Buhari, C.C. Okezie, H.U. Kofarnaisa, and Z.B. Atiku, requested trial dates and the remand of the defendants in correctional facilities.

The judges adjourned the cases to various dates in February and March 2025 for trial. Justice Faji adjourned the matter to February 10, 11, 17, 18, and 19, 2025; Justice Dipeolu to February 7, 15, 21, 24, and 28, 2025; Justice Owoeye to February 20, 21, 24, 28, and March 18, 2025; and Justice Aneke to March 7, 2025.

The suspects were part of a larger syndicate arrested during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation,” which targeted individuals involved in cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud. The operation, which took place in Lagos, uncovered a network of foreign nationals allegedly collaborating with Nigerian youths to perpetrate cybercrimes.