EFCC secures court forfeiture of Chinese men’s properties for allegedly running a cybercrime training centre for Nigerian youths
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A court has ordered some Chinese nationals allegedly belonging to a crime syndicate to forfeit to the federal government 73 properties and several gadgets, including 1,596 laptop computers, among others, linked to cybercrime and money laundering in a case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Judge Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued the interim forfeiture order following an ex parte motion filed by EFCC counsel B.M. Isah against Genting International Co.
The forfeited items include
- 1,596 computer laptops
- 4,091 mobile phones
- 350 foreign SIM cards
- 3,399 Nigerian SIM cards – MTN (1,122) 9moblie (316), Airtel (1,277), and Glo (684)
- 194 routers
- 205 sofas
- 501 double-step bunks
- 754 mattresses
- 40 refrigerators
- 10 microwaves
- two whiteboards
- 16 inverter batteries
- 14 inverters
- 43 CPUs/monitors
- A ring light
- Two fuel tanks
- A transformer
- Seven vehicles
- 411 deep freezers
- 13 electric kettles
- 21 UPS units
- A toaster
- An air fryer
- 558 office desks
- two television sets
- A network server
- Six gas cylinders
- A blender
- Three weight scales
- A spiral dough mixer
- Two double-burner stoves
- A dining set
The EFCC filed the application under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, seeking an interim forfeiture of the properties.
The Judge ruled that “I have read the motion and attachments and find sufficient merit in the application. Consequently, the motion succeeds and is hereby granted.”
The court ordered the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper and invite interested parties to show cause within 14 days why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
EFCC investigator Kaina Garba stated in an 18-paragraph affidavit that the assets were seized during a sting operation on 10 December 2024 at No. 7 Oyinjolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos – the alleged headquarters of the syndicate.
The EFCC said it acted on intelligence that a syndicate, allegedly led by Chinese nationals operating under the name Genting International, was running a cybercrime training centre for Nigerian youths.
The recruits were assigned computers and specially configured mobile phone lines to carry out romance, dating, and investment scams.
Additional properties linked to the group were uncovered at No. 14 Modupe Alakija Crescent, Ikoyi; Plot 1220 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island; and Plot No. 54A A.J. Marinho Drive, Victoria Island.
During the raid, the EFCC arrested 761 suspects, foreign and Nigerian.
The alleged leaders and financiers of the syndicate remain at large but are being actively pursued, the EFCC said.
Garba urged the court to grant the interim forfeiture in the public interest, citing the rising threat of cybercrime and money laundering in Nigeria.
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