The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured an interim forfeiture order for digital assets valued at $222,729.86, tied to fraudulent activities allegedly involving Chinese and Filipino nationals.
The order was granted yesterday by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 2, 2025.
The forfeiture order follows a motion filed by Zeenat Atiku, a prosecutor with the EFCC, under Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advanced Free Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14, 2016.
The court also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, allowing anyone with an interest in the assets to challenge the forfeiture within 14 days.
According to a deposition by EFCC investigator Owolabi Taiwo, the commission had received intelligence about a large-scale fraud operation involving foreign nationals based in Lagos.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of 792 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of approximately 1,000 routers, SIM cards, computers, and mobile phones.
Further investigation uncovered that the suspects were part of a syndicate engaged in cryptocurrency fraud and dating scams, with operations financed through Genting International Co. Limited (GICL), a Nigerian-registered company.
The syndicate laundered illicit funds, including over $2.39 million in USDT, through peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading.
The funds were traced to wallet addresses connected to fraudulent schemes, including Conti.vip.
Meanwhile, the EFCC also arraigned 58 foreign nationals, including Chinese and Filipino nationals, on charges related to impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
The accused, who were arrested in December 2024, face charges related to cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, identity theft, and the employment of Nigerian youths for fraudulent activities.
The defendants were separately arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Justice Denide Dipeolu, and Justice Alexander Owoeye respectively, where they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Some of the defendants who were arraigned before four separate courts are Cherry De Leon (A.K.A Yesh De Leon), Khurram Shanzad, Fernad Fu Fang (A.K.A Kim), Tan Soon Kar, Rex Jose Dilag (A.K.A Madison), Jamal Polea, Jamilyn Jaynee Gonzalez (A.K.A Jam Galanza) and Hannah Jaramillo (A.K.A Max De Leon).
Others Lin Haobo, An Hongxu (a.k.a Ruike), Shitou Shizilong, Pan Jiong, Zhow Kunji, Huang Xiao Liang (a.k.a Liu Xiao Liang), Peng Sen Lin (a.k.a Peng Song Lin, Pen Sen Ling, Dong Fang Hong, Huang Ren Jan, Shi Yang Xiong, Lu Yi Liang, Guo Giang (a.k.a Lisa), Wen Zong Xu, Pan Cai Yu, and Guo Zhi Yong.
After the charges were read to each defendant individually, they all pleaded not guilty.
Following their not guilty plea, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centres.
The females defendants were remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while their male counterparts were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
They were separately arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Justice Denide Dipeolu, and Justice Alexander Owoeye respectively.
Some of the defendants who were arraigned before four separate courts are Cherry De Leon (A.K.A Yesh De Leon), Khurram Shanzad, Fernad Fu Fang (A.K.A Kim), Tan Soon Kar, Rex Jose Dilag (A.K.A Madison), Jamal Polea, Jamilyn Jaynee Gonzalez (A.K.A Jam Galanza) and Hannah Jaramillo (A.K.A Max De Leon).
Others Lin Haobo, An Hongxu (a.k.a Ruike), Shitou Shizilong, Pan Jiong, Zhow Kunji, Huang Xiao Liang (a.k.a Liu Xiao Liang), Peng Sen Lin (a.k.a Peng Song Lin, Pen Sen Ling, Dong Fang Hong, Huang Ren Jan, Shi Yang Xiong, Lu Yi Liang, Guo Giang (a.k.a Lisa), Wen Zong Xu, Pan Cai Yu, and Guo Zhi Yong.
Other defendants are Danica Manulit (A.K.A. Dan Ruiz), Vera Dela Cris (A.K.A. Nina Vera Gonzal), Joey Gracia, Beverlyn Gumayo Casino (A.K.A. Sumayo), and Tricia Jenylyn Castro (Alias T. J. Castro).
The defendants 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.
They were arraigned by EFCC team of prosecutors comprising of Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Suleiman Ismail Suleiman, Chineye Chisara Okezie, Hannatu Kofarnaisa,
N. K . Ukoha, T. J .Banjo, and M. S. Owede.
They were arraigned on separate charges 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.
The offences are punishable under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
After the charges were read to each defendant individually, they all pleaded not guilty.
Following their not guilty plea, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Centres.
The females defendants were remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while their male counterparts were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
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 Section18 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.
The different cases have been adjourned till February 20, 21, 24, 28, March 18, 2025, for trial.
