Kehinde Fajobi
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of 13 Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Limited, over allegations of fraud, impersonation, and attempts to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Justice Denide Dipeolu issued the remand order on Friday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the defendants on multiple charges under Nigeria’s cybercrime and fraud laws. They all pleaded not guilty.
The suspects, including Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (a.k.a. Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (a.k.a. You), and Zhang Xiao Lei, were arrested on 10 December 2024 at their hideout on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
EFCC’s legal team, led by Director of Legal Aso Peters, said the accused were part of a syndicate involved in cyber fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes.
According to the charges, Liu San Hua allegedly hired Nigerian youths to pose as foreign nationals for fraudulent purposes, while Zhang Xiao Lei and Genting International Co. Limited were accused of using computer systems to commit cybercrimes aimed at destabilising Nigeria.
The EFCC also alleged that Wang Zheng Feng (a.k.a. A. Feng) accessed computer systems to undermine Nigeria’s economy and social structure.
Luo Jia You (a.k.a. You) was accused of misleading EFCC investigators by providing a false identity to conceal his role in a romance scam and cryptocurrency fraud network.
One of the defendants, Guo Xiao Fei, allegedly impersonated a French national named Alani to defraud a victim and was found in possession of documents used for romance scams.
Following their pleas, Justice Dipeolu scheduled trial dates for 3, 14, and 21 February 2025. The defendants were remanded in correctional facilities, with the two female suspects sent to Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre and the others to Ikoyi Correctional Centre.