Justice Alexander Owoeye of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday granted an interim forfeiture order for digital assets valued at $222,729.86 over fraudulent activities allegedly linked to Chinese and Filipino nationals.

The court granted the interim forfeiture order following a motion ex-parte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While moving the application, the prosecution counsel, Ms. Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14, 2016.

Justice Owoeye, while granting the order, also directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, allowing anyone with an interest in the assets to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The order read: “An interim forfeiture order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria digital assets listed in the schedule hereunder, which proceeds were traced and reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

In a seven-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigating officer, Owolabi Taiwo, the anti-graft commission stated that he had received intelligence about large-scale fraud involving foreign nationals operating in Lagos.

He said a subsequent sting operation led to the arrest of 792 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of approximately 1,000 routers, SIM cards, computers, and mobile phones.

The deponent further said that the investigation revealed that these suspects were part of a syndicate engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud and dating scams.

According to him, “The syndicate financed its operations through Genting International Co. Limited (GICL), a Nigerian-registered company. The company’s Union Bank account received over N2.26 billion from April to December 2024.

“Bank statements showed that the primary inflows into the account came from cryptocurrency vendors Chukwuemeka Okeke (CO) and Alhassan Aminu Garba (AA), who provided statements under caution.”

The EFCC reported receiving a total of $2.39 million in USDT from the syndicate through peer-to-peer trading. Further blockchain analysis traced these funds to wallet addresses linked to fraudulent schemes, including Conti.vip.

“The investigation also revealed that GICL, established by foreign nationals, was used to launder the proceeds of fraudulent activities. These individuals, operating without valid work permits, are violating Nigerian laws.”

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to March 7, 2025, for a report on compliance.

Meanwhile, in another development, the EFCC arraigned 58 foreign nationals, comprising Chinese and Filipino nationals, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

The defendants were separately arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Justice Denide Dipeolu, and Justice Alexander Owoeye.

The defendants who were arraigned before four separate courts are: Cherry De Leon (A.K.A Yesh De Leon), Khurram Shanzad, Fernad Fu Fang (A.K.A Kim), Tan Soon Kar, Rex Jose Dilag (A.K.A Madison), Jamal Polea, Jamilyn Jaynee Gonzalez (A.K.A Jam Galanza), and Hannah Jaramillo (A.K.A Max De Leon).

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Others include: Lin Haobo, An Hongxu (A.K.A Ruike), Shitou Shizilong, Pan Jiong, Zhow Kunji, Huang Xiao Liang (A.K.A Liu Xiao Liang), Peng Sen Lin (A.K.A Peng Song Lin, Pen Sen Ling), Dong Fang Hong, Huang Ren Jan, Shi Yang Xiong, Lu Yi Liang, Guo Giang (A.K.A Lisa), Wen Zong Xu, Pan Cai Yu, and Guo Zhi Yong.

Other defendants include: Danica Manulit (A.K.A. Dan Ruiz), Vera Dela Cris (A.K.A. Nina Vera Gonzal), Joey Gracia, Beverlyn Gumayo Casino (A.K.A. Sumayo), and Tricia Jenylyn Castro (A.K.A. T. J. Castro).

The defendants were among a group of alleged fraudsters arrested on December 10, 2024, by the EFCC at their hideout at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence gathered by the commission.

They were arraigned by an EFCC team of prosecutors comprising Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Mr. Suleiman Ismail Suleiman, Chineye Chisara Okezie, Hannatu Kofarnaisa, N. K. Ukoha, T. J. Banjo, and M. S. Owede.

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

The defendants were alleged to have secretly procured and employed several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer-related fraud.

The prosecution said that their offences are punishable under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges individually.

Following their not-guilty plea, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centres.

The female defendants among them were remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while their male counterparts were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

The EFCC said that the defendants, on or about December 18, 2024, in Lagos, willfully accessed computer systems organized to seriously destabilize 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 alleged that sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, the defendants willfully gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of an investigation when they were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group specializing in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, cyber terrorism, among others.

Their offences are contrary to Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024), and Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.

The court has therefore adjourned their different cases to February 20, 21, 24, 28, and March 18, 2025, for trial.