The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate charged 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Pakistani in separate Federal High Courts in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, February 3, 2025.
Together with a business, Genting International Co. Ltd., they were arraigned before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke separately.
According to the EFCC, the suspects are part of a gang of 792 accused cryptocurrency investment and romantic fraud suspects detained on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation dubbed the “Eagle Flush Operation” by EFCC agents.
They were charged with several offenses including alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents with false pretense, and identity theft, among others.
The defendants are: Zhang Hua Zhai; Chen Xin; Li Zhen Peng; Guo Long Long ; Ren Jia Wen; Zhang Jian; Zhao Ying Bin; Yu Zi, (a.k.a.Wei Xue Huan); Zhang Yang; Wang Zhi Chenge; Cherry De Leon (a.k.a. Yeah De Leon); Khurram Shanzad; Fernand Fu Fang (a.k.a. Kim); Tan Soon Kar; Rex Jose Dilag (a.k.a. Madison); Jamal Polea; Kamilu Jayne Gongzalez (a.k.a Jam Galanza); Hannah Jaramillo (a.k.a Max Deleon); Danica Manulit (a.k.a. Dan Ruiz); Vera Dela Cris (a.k.a Nina Vera Gonzal); Joey Gracia; Beverlyn Gumayo Casino (a.k.a. Veb Sumayo) and Tricia Jenylyn Castro (a.k.a. T. J. Castrol).
Others are: An Hongxu; Shitou Shizilong; Pan Jiong; Wanq Jia Qi; Huang Xiao Liang; Guo Giang; Wen Zong Xu; Zhon Kun Li; Huang Ren Jian; Li Jin; Deng Wen Qiang; Lu Yi Liang; Pan Cai Yu; Peng Li Jain (a.k.a. Han Li Jaun); He Kun; Zhao Jin Rong; Lin Hao Bo; Chen Fusheng and Xiang Bing.
One of the counts reads: “That you, ZHANG HUA ZHAI and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, on or about the 18th of December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, 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 you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
Another count reads: “That you, VIERA DELA CRUZ (A.K.A NINA VIERA GONZAL) & GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD., sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organized to seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevecyber-relatedated cries) 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)”.
Another count reads: “That you, Shitou Shizilong and Genting International Co. Limited, on or about the 11th December 2024 at No.7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, wilfully caused to be accessed, a computer system which was organized to seriously destabilize the economic and social structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by procuring and employing several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer related fraud, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 (as amended).”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli