The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned 42 foreign nationals from China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia before separate Federal High Courts in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges of cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, and identity theft.

The defendants include 29 Chinese nationals, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, and one Pakistani, along with Genting International Co. Ltd., which is also named in the charges. They were brought before Justices Ayokunle Faji, D.I. Dipeolu, Alexander Owoeye, and C.J. Aneke.

The accused are alleged to be part of a syndicate involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud, with 792 individuals arrested during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” in Lagos on December 19, 2024.

The charges include cyber-terrorism, identity theft, impersonation, and possession of fraudulent documents. One charge involves Zhang Hua Zhai and Genting International Co. Ltd. allegedly accessing computer systems to destabilize Nigeria's constitutional structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft.

Other defendants, such as Viera Dela Cruz (a.k.a. Nina Viera Gonzal) and Shitou Shizilong, are accused of manipulating computer systems to commit identity fraud, violating the Cybercrimes Act.