Court remands accused at Ikoyi Correctional Centre

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned another 11 Chinese nationals at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over alleged impersonation, fraud, and attempt to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.

The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them. The EFCC team of prosecutors led by M. K. Bashir and R. A. Abdulrasheed, told the court that on or about December 18, 2024 in Lagos, the defendants wilfully caused to be accessed computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when they procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves (Nigerians) out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for themselves (the defendants).

The commission also told the court that sometime in December 2024 in Lagos, the defendants wilfully gave false information to officers of the EFCC in the course of investigation when they were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialised in romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism, among others.

According to the EFCC, the offence committed are contrary to Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as altered, 2024), 39 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2) (b) of the same Act.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, after taking their pleas, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The judge, therefore, adjourned the case till February 21 and March 7, 2025, for trial.