EFCC begins prosecution of 13 chinese nationals, company for alleged cryptocurrency fraud, romance scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the prosecution of 13 Chinese nationals and a company for alleged cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam.

EFCC arraigned the suspects before Justice Deinde Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday.

It was reported that another set of foreigners will be arraigned before other judges of the court on Monday.

At the proceedings, the EFCC’s legal team was led by Director of Legal Affairs, Larry Peters Aso, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala and two others, who presented the charges against the defendants, citing violations of Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).

Those charged are Wanq Jia Qi (also known as Xiao Tian), Wang Zheng Ming, Liyin Hui, Xiao Hong Will and Zhang Xiuo Lei.

The others are: Ling Yang (also known as Long Shao Ming), Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng (Also known as Feng), Chen Wenyuan, Liu Sau Hua, Luo Jia You (Also known as You) and Rheign Dela Vega (also known as Rheignal).

They were also said to have procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition & Prevention Act, 2015 (As Amended)

With the aid of an interpreter, the charges were read to the defendants in Mandarin and they all pleaded not guilty.

One of them, Wang Zheng Ming rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer and requested time to hire his legal representation.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 3, 7, 14, and 21 for trial. The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.

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