Nine Chinese nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., have been dragged before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice C.J. Aneke presided over the arraignment
The defendants—Su Dong Fu, Zheng Xian Tao, Wang Shi Long, Pan Cai Qi, Ting Liao, Fan Jia, Feng Li Cani, Lu Yong Yao, and Yang Chen Cheng—are linked to a syndicate of 792 individuals arrested in Lagos on December 10, 2024, during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation.”
The accused face multiple charges, including cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft.
One of the charges states that Zeng Xian Tao, also known as A Tao and Zhou Tao, along with Genting International Co. Ltd., willfully accessed computer systems with the intent to destabilize Nigeria’s economy and social structure.
The alleged actions violate Section 18 of the Cyber crime Act 2015, as amended in 2024, and Section 2(3) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
When the charges were read, all nine individuals pleaded not guilty. Following their pleas, prosecution counsel M.K. Bashir requested trial dates and urged the court to remand the defendants in custody.
Justice Aneke set trial dates for February 21 and March 7, 2025, and ordered that the accused be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Crediblenewsng.com
