Nine Chinese people and a business, Genting International Co. Ltd., were charged with cyberterrorism and online fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday.
The defendants made a not-guilty plea to the allegations after being arraigned before Federal High Court Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke in Lagos.
Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao, Yang Chen Cheng, and Su Dong Fu were the defendants.
According to the EFCC, the accused are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 10, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by its operatives.
The suspects were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretences and identity theft, among others.
Because of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, prayed to the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in the correctional centre.
READ ALSO: FCTA Splashes N36.5bn on Magistrate Courts, Sport Centres
Following their pleas, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till February 21 and March 7, 2025, for trial and also remanded the defendants at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The development comes only two days after the anti-graft agency arraigned 11 Chinese for similar offences before the same Federal High Court in Lagos.
