The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned 42 foreign nationals before separate Federal High Courts in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, and identity theft.
The defendants include 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Pakistani, alongside Genting International Co. Ltd.
They were arraigned before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke.
The suspects are said to be part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud operatives arrested in Lagos on December 19, 2024, during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation.”
The accused individuals face multiple charges, including cyber-terrorism, identity theft, impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the counts against them states:“That you, Zhang Hua Zhai and Genting International Co. Ltd., on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, willfully accessed computer systems to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft, posing as foreign nationals for financial gain, thereby committing an offense punishable under the Cybercrimes Act.”
Another charge against Viera Dela Cruz (a.k.a Nina Viera Gonzal) & Genting International Co. Ltd. alleges that they accessed and manipulated computer systems in December 2024 to commit identity fraud, violating Section 18 of the Cybercrimes Act.
Similarly, Shitou Shizilong and Genting International Co. Ltd. are accused of using Nigerian youths for large-scale cyber fraud operations at an address in Victoria Island, Lagos.
