COURT ORDERS 13 CHINESE NATIONALS OVER CYBERCRIME, SECURITY BREACH
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13 Chinese citizens and a business, Genting International Co. Limited, have been placed under detention by a Federal High Court in Lagos on suspicion of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea to the allegations brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Denide Dipeolu issued the remand order on Friday.
The defendants, Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (also known as Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (also known as You), and Zhang Xiao Lei, were arraigned in front of the court.
The others are Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng (Madison), Liu San Hua, Chen Wenyuan (also known as Lee05mx20), and Rheeigh De La Vega (also known as Rheignalyn).
On December 10, 2024, they were among the suspects apprehended from their hiding place at 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Based on reliable information that connected them to fraud and cybercrime, the EFCC took action.
The defendants were charged under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as modified in 2024) by the EFCC’s legal team, which was headed by Director of Legal Aso Peters.
All of the defendants entered not guilty pleas after the accusations were read to them individually, with the exception of Wang Zheng Ming, who turned down the EFCC-appointed attorney and asked for more time to find his own counsel.
Following their pleas, Justice Dipeolu scheduled trial dates for 3, 14, and 21 February 2025.
He ordered the defendants to be held at correctional facilities pending trial.
The two female defendants were remanded at Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, while the others were taken to Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
One specific defendant, Liu San Hua, was accused of facilitating identity theft by hiring Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals to gain financial advantage.
This act is said to have violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
Among the charges are claims of educating Genting International Co. Limited personnel in fraudulent methods, using false identities to scam victims online, and other crimes under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Crimes Act of 2006.
The allegations, according to the EFCC, highlight grave acts intended to compromise Nigeria’s financial stability and security by means of fraud and cybercrime.
According to allegations, Liu San Hua and Genting International Co. Limited violated Section 18 of the Cybercrimes Act by hiring young Nigerians to impersonate foreigners in order to enable identity theft.
Genting International Co. Limited and Zhang Xiao Lei were charged with cybercrimes that sought to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order through the exploitation of computer systems.
The EFCC stated that sometime in December 2024, Wang Zheng Feng (also known as A. Feng) allegedly accessed computer systems to harm Nigeria’s economy and social structure. He was said to have employed Nigerian youths for identity theft, presenting them as foreign nationals to gain financial advantage—an offence that violated both the Cybercrimes
Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Luo Jia You (also known as You) was charged with providing false information to EFCC investigators, misleading them about his identity to conceal his involvement in a syndicate specialising in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and cyber terrorism.
In an attempt to mislead investigators, Luo Jia You allegedly misrepresented his name as A. You—an offence contrary to Section 39(2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.
The Commission told the court that sometime in December 2024, Guo Xiao Fei, with intent to gain financial advantage for his employer, fraudulently impersonated a French national named Alani by presenting himself as such to one Mr Montalito.
The offence contravened Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
He was also accused of being in possession of documents used for false pretences, including romance scam formats and chat records where he falsely presented himself as a United States citizen.
This offence contravened Sections 6, 8(b), and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The EFCC stated that the defendants’ activities posed serious threats to Nigeria’s security and financial integrity.
After their arraignment, the court adjourned the case till 3 February 2025 for trial.
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