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| The two convicts. |
Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, convicted and sentenced two Chinese: Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years’ imprisonment each for cyber terrorism and internet fraud.
The
convicts, alongside one Friday Audu were among a syndicate of 792
fraudsters arrested for cryptocurrency, investment and romance
fraud on December 19, 2024 in Lagos in a surprise operation tagged “Eagle
Flush Operation” by EFCC operatives.
Investigations
revealed that Friday allegedly incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. on
the directive of Huang Haoyu to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.
The
defendants were found to have procured and employed Nigerian youths to falsely
represent themselves as foreign nationals for the purpose of defrauding
unsuspecting victims through online platforms.
They were
subsequently arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., by
the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on a seven- count charge bordering on cyber-terrorism, internet fraud and
money laundering to the tune of N3,407,824,740.78 (Three Billion, Four Hundred
and Seven Million, Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and
Forty Naira, Seventy Eight kobo), and $2,562,203 ( Two Million, Five
Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Three United States Dollars).
One of the
counts reads: “That you, Huang Haoyu, a.k.a Ken, Audu Friday, An Hongxu,
Duliang Pan (at large) and Genting International Co. Ltd, sometime in
2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to
willfully cause to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously
destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and
prevents cyber and related crimes) when you, with intent to gain a financial
advantage for yourselves and cronies, procured and or employed Nigerian youths
to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities, and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024) and punishable
under Section 18 of the same Act”.
They
initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
At the
resumed sitting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, counsel to the first and third
defendants, Bridget Omateno, informed the court that the defendants would
like to change their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
When the
charges were re-read to them, both Haoyu and Hongxu pleaded “guilty” to the
charges filed against them, while Audu maintained his plea of “not guilty.”
Following
the guilty pleas of both Haoyu and Hongxu, who are directors in the company,
the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala- Buhari stated that the prosecution had
earlier called two witnesses before the change of plea.
She urged
the court to impose the maximum punishment of life imprisonment on counts 1, 2
and 3, and 14 years’ imprisonment on counts 4 to 7.
The
prosecution also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of all items
recovered during investigation from the four properties listed in the charge
(Items 1–135) to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The items
are: 1,596 mobile phones, 2,120 office chairs, 544 office tables, 194 routers,
43 computer systems, a network server, 126 air-conditioning units, several
generators and vehicles, hundreds of mattresses and bunk beds, thousands of SIM
cards across different networks, and numerous other electronic devices and
household items recovered from premises at No.
7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island; Plot 1220Bishop Oluwole Street,
Victoria Island; 54A
A.J. Marinho Drive, Victoria Island; and No.
14A Modupe Alakija Crescent, Ikoyi.
Delivering
judgment, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced the first and third
defendants to a cumulative term of 46 years’ imprisonment each, with an
option of fine of N56,000,000 (Fifty-Six Million Naira).
The
court also ordered that they undertake three days of community service
and be repatriated after serving their sentences and completing the community
service.
The matter
was adjourned till April 29, 2026 for the continuation of trial involving Audu
Friday, who maintained his not guilty plea.
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