Lagos Court Prosecutes 11 Filipinos Over Alleged Fraud

By Felix Kuyinu

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has held a sitting in prosecution of eleven Philippines nationalities over internet fraud.

The Filipinos alongside a Chinese were arraigned by the Economic Finacial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu.

All suspects alongside a company identified as Genting International Company Limited are facing multiple charges of cybercrimes, cyber terrorism, identity theft, and possession of fraudulent documents.

The EFCC identified the names of the defendants as: Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xian Hong Will, Zhang Xiao Lei, Long Zhao Ming, Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng, Chen Wenyuan, Liu San Hua, Luo Jia You, and Rheign Dela Vega, who were said to be part of a syndicate of 792 suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, during the Commission’s Eagle Flush Operation aimed against romance fraud schemes.

One charge states that the second defendant and Genting International Company Limited unlawfully accessed computer systems to recruit Nigerian youths for identity theft and violating the provisions of Cybercrimes Act.

Another charge alleges that Luo Jia You gave false information to EFCC officers to mislead investigators about his involvement in romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud.

Additionally, Long Shao Ming is accused of impersonating a U.S. citizen identified as Linda Maureen to defraud victims.

All defendants pleaded not guilty.

Consequently, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the trial to February 7, 14, and 21, 2025, and ordered the detention of the suspects at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.