The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, arraigned four Chinese nationals before Justices M. Kakaki and Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over allegations of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The defendants, identified as Xia Guang Can, Li Xu Xin, Zhang Xue Hui, and Lu Yubo, are part of a 792-member syndicate allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud. They were arrested on December 10, 2024, during a surprise EFCC operation codenamed “Eagle Flush.”
Three of the accused, Xia Guang Can, Li Xu Xin, and Zhang Xue Hui were arraigned separately before Justice Kakaki on single-count charges, while Lu Yubo faced a two-count charge before Justice Faji. The charges against them include internet fraud, cyber-terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, advance fee fraud, and identity theft.
One of the charges against Zhang Xue Hui reads:
“That you, ZHANG XUE HUI, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, accessed a computer system used for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015.”
Similarly, one of the charges against Lu Yubo states:
“That you, LU YUBO, and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, on or about December 11, 2024, at No. 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, willfully accessed a computer system 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. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 (as amended).”
All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution, represented by Fanen Anum and Ahmed Yerima, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility. In response, defense counsel sought a short adjournment to file bail applications.
Justice Kakaki adjourned the trial of Xia Guang Can, Li Xu Xin, and Zhang Xue Hui to March 18, 2025, ordering their remand in a correctional facility. Justice Faji scheduled Lu Yubo’s trial for March 31 and April 3, 2025, directing that he be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
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