The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, has arraigned nine Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., on charges of alleged cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and identity theft. The arraignment took place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants—Su Dong Fu, Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao, and Yang Chen Cheng—are part of a syndicate of 792 individuals arrested on December 10, 2024, during an EFCC operation codenamed “Eagle Flush.” The large-scale operation targeted alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud schemes.
The suspects face multiple charges, including cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft. One of the charges states that Zheng Xian Tao (also known as A Tao and Zhou Tao) and Genting International Co. Ltd. “willfully caused unauthorized access to computer systems used to destabilize and destroy Nigeria’s economic and social structure,” an offense under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
All nine defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. In response, EFCC prosecution counsel M.K. Bashir requested trial dates and urged the court to remand the accused in a correctional facility.
Justice Aneke scheduled the trial for February 21 and March 7, 2025, and ordered the defendants to be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
