The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated the trial of 13 Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Limited, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for offences related to cryptocurrency fraud and romance scams.
Arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu, the defendants face charges under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024). They are accused of destabilizing Nigeria’s constitutional structure through cyber activities and employing Nigerians for identity theft and fraudulent schemes.
The charges, read in Mandarin with the aid of an interpreter, were met with not-guilty pleas. One defendant, Wang Zheng Ming, requested time to hire his own lawyer, rejecting EFCC-appointed counsel.
The court adjourned the trial to February 3, 7, 14, and 21, ordering the defendants to remain in custody at the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending bail applications.
This follows the EFCC’s December 2024 announcement of a major crackdown on a syndicate involving 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and others at a facility in Victoria Island, Lagos. The operation revealed that foreigners had been training Nigerians to perpetrate fraud, challenging the notion that Nigerians solely drive such crimes.
The EFCC emphasized its commitment to making Nigeria inhospitable for criminal enterprises.
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