The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, two Chinese nationals, and Audu Friday, a Nigerian, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday, March 17, 2025
The defendants are standing trial for an 11-count charge pertaining to cyber-terrorism, computer-related offences, and money laundering, amounting to N3,407,824,740.78 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira, Seventy Eight kobo) and $2,562,203 (Two Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Three United States Dollars).
They are members of the syndicate of 792, who were apprehended on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation referred to as “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC over their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams.
Investigations found that Friday allegedly incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. on behalf of Huang Haoyu.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Huang Haoyu, a.k.a Ken, Audu Friday, An Hongxu, Duliang Pan (at large) and Genting International Co. Ltd, sometime in 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to willfully cause to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when you, with intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and cronies , procured and or employed Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024) and punishable under Section 18 of the same Act”.
Another count reads: “That you, Huang Haoyu, a.k.a Ken, Audu Friday, An Hongxu, Duliang Pan (at large) and Genting International Co. Ltd, between August and December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court , retained in Genting International Co. limited account number 0225100403 domiciled in Union Bank the sum of N3,407,824,740.78 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred Twenty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira Seventy Eight kobo) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: “fraud” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari prayed the court for a short trial date and the defendants’ remand in the EFCC custody.
Counsel to the first defendant, Emeka Okonkwo, SAN, however urged the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody, pending the hearing of the bail application before the court.
Justice Osiagor remanded the defendants in the custody of the EFCC and also adjourned the matter for hearing of the bail application.
