By Emmanuel Daniji

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of 431 mobile phones allegedly linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu made the order on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking final forfeiture of the devices to the Federal Government.

The phones were allegedly recovered in connection with an investigation into a cyber-fraud operation said to have been coordinated from a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to an affidavit filed by EFCC investigator Christopher Augustine, the facility contained about 500 laptops and 400 mobile phones, as well as telecommunications cards allegedly used in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fraudulent investment schemes.

The EFCC alleged that Nigerian youths were recruited online and brought to the facility, where they were trained by foreign nationals to communicate with victims through phishing, social media and other online platforms.

The Commission said the alleged operation targeted victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and several European countries, with suspects allegedly posing as romantic partners, business advisers or investment experts.

It further alleged that some recruits were given WhatsApp accounts connected to foreign telephone numbers, including German and Italian numbers, which were allegedly used to establish relationships with victims before directing them towards fraudulent investment opportunities.

The EFCC said victims were allegedly directed to a platform identified as “yooto.com”, where activation fees reportedly started from $35.

The Commission also alleged that an account linked to one of the foreign nationals, Huang Haoyu, received more than ₦3.4 billion, which it described as proceeds of unlawful activities.

The investigation dates back to December 10, 2024, when the EFCC said its operatives carried out a sting operation at the facility and arrested more than 700 people.

The Commission said those arrested included about 500 Nigerians, 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two persons identified in the affidavit as “Kharzartan” and one Pakistani national.

The EFCC subsequently charged Huang, Genting International Company Limited (GICL) and other foreign nationals in March 2025 over allegations including cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering.

The Commission said Huang and GICL pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced by the court.

The 431 phones at the centre of the latest ruling were reportedly discovered during the continuing investigation and were allegedly linked to the convicted persons and their activities.

The EFCC obtained an interim forfeiture order over the devices on July 8, 2026. The court directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to give anyone with an interest in the phones an opportunity to appear and explain why they should not be permanently forfeited.

The Commission said it published the notice in The Guardian on August 11, 2026, but no successful challenge was made within the statutory period.

The EFCC subsequently returned to court seeking final forfeiture.

The case was filed as an action in rem, meaning the proceedings were directed primarily at the property rather than requiring a fresh criminal trial against an individual.

The Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

After hearing the application, Justice Dipeolu granted the EFCC’s request and ordered that all 431 mobile phones be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The ruling brings the forfeiture proceedings over the devices to an end, with the EFCC maintaining that the phones were connected to an international cyber-fraud operation allegedly run from Lagos.

The allegations contained in the EFCC’s affidavit formed the basis of the forfeiture proceedings and should not, by themselves, be taken as proof of every allegation against every person mentioned in the investigation.