EFCC CHARGES 14 FILIPINOS WITH CYBER-TERRORISM AND FRAUD IN LAGOS
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The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought 14 Filipinos and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, charged with cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in Lagos.
A statement from the EFCC’s X handle on Thursday revealed the names of the defendants: Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Jonalyn Mendoza, Dominique Medina, Rachelle Cabalona, Krystel Aquilesca, Caselyn Pionela, Raizza Camara, Danica Silad, Reyna Mae Eriba, Chynna Samonte, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, Sevien Cire Renovilla, and Rose-Ann Gonzales.
The EFCC stated that the Filipinos were part of a 792-member syndicate involved in alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud, arrested on December 10, 2024, during a surprise operation called the “Eagle Flush Operation” in Lagos.
The defendants face various charges, including cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents with false information, and identity theft.
The charge against Dela Cruz reads: “That you, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, and Genting International Co. Ltd sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That of Aquilesca reads: “That you, Krystel Aquilesca, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for your employer fraudulently impersonated one ‘TETEEL’ by holding yourself out as such, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.
“They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which prosecution counsel, M.K Bashir, N.K. Ukoha, and Bilkisu Buhari, respectively, prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre. Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter till March 13, 2025 for trial, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre,” the statement added.
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