Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years’ imprisonment each for cyberterrorism, internet fraud and money laundering involving N3.4 billion and $2.5 million.
The convicts were arrested alongside 790 others, including one Friday Audu, in a major crackdown on December 19, 2024, during a surprise operation tagged, “Eagle Flush Operation” carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, the syndicate specialised in cryptocurrency, investment and romance scams and operated from multiple locations in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, Lagos.
Investigations revealed that Audu allegedly incorporated Genting International Company Limited. on the directive of Huang to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.
The defendants were said to have recruited and employed Nigerian youths to falsely pose as foreign nationals to defraud unsuspecting victims through online platforms.
The trio, alongside Genting International and one Duliang Pan, who is at large, were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on cyberterrorism, internet fraud and money laundering to the tune of N3,407,824,740.78 and $2,562,203.
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The offences are contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and punishable under Section 18 of the same Act.
The defendants initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, counsel to the first and third defendants, Bridget Omateno, informed the court of their intention to change their pleas.
When the charges were re-read, Huang and Hongxu pleaded guilty, while Audu maintained his not guilty plea.
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala-Buhari, told the court that the prosecution had already called two witnesses before the change of plea.
She urged the court to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment on counts one to three, and 14 years imprisonment on counts four to seven.
The prosecution also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of all items recovered during investigations to the federal government.
The items, recovered from four properties included 1,596 mobile phones, 2,120 office chairs, 544 office tables, 194 routers, 43 computer systems, a network server, 126 air conditioners, generators, vehicles, hundreds of mattresses and bunk beds, as well as thousands of SIM cards and other electronic devices.
Justice Osiagor subsequently convicted and sentenced Huang and Hongxu to 46 years’ imprisonment each.
