Crime
Internet Fraud: EFCC Arraigns 11 Chinese, One Filipino In Lagos
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, January 31, 2025, arraigned 11 Chinese, one Filipino and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants are: 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.
They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024 in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC.
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The suspects were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.
One of the counts reads: “That you, LI YIN HUI and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, on or about the 18th of December 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, willfully caused to be accessed computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024).”
Another count reads: “That you, LUO JIA YOU (AKA A. YOU) sometime in December 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of investigation when you were being questioned for being part of a criminal syndicate group, specialized in Romance scam, crypto currency fraud, cyber terrorism amongst others; and in order to mislead them, you falsely represented your name as A. YOU and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2) (b) of the same Act.”
Another charge reads: “That you, LONG SHAO MING A.K.A LING YANG, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents containing false pretence, wherein you held yourself out as ‘Linda Maureen’, a citizen of the United States of America, which document you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and punishable under 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, 2006. “
They each pleaded “not guilty” to the offences when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, L.P. Aso, M. K.Bashir, T. J. Banjo, N. K. Ukoha and B. Buhari-Bala, prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in the appropriate Correctional facilities.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till 7, 14 and 21 February, 2025 for trial and remanded the defendants at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres.
Crime
EFCC Files Fraud Charges Against Ex-MDs of Warri, PH Refineries
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is poised to arraign the former Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPCL), Jimoh Yisawu, on Friday, and the former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRCL), Ahmed Dikko, on Wednesday, over separate money laundering charges bordering on hundreds of millions of naira and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Court documents show both matters are before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Yisawu is facing eight charges, including alleged conversions of $789,950 and $122,600, while Dikko is facing 12 counts covering transactions dating back to 2022.
Count one of the eight charges alleged that between October 2023 and May 2025, Yisawu indirectly converted the aggregate sum of $789,950 through one Samaila Bala.
“That you, Jimoh Olasunkanmi Yisawu, the former Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd, between October 2023 and May 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, indirectly converted the aggregate sum of $789,950 through Samaila Bala, which amount did not form part of your known lawful earnings as a former public officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (formerly Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), when you knew that the said sum of $789,950 constituted proceeds of unlawful activity, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” it read.
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According to Count 2, Yisawu allegedly made various cash payments in excess of N5,000,000 or equivalent amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $789,950 to Samaila Bala without going through a financial institution, an offence the EFCC says contravenes the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charges further alleged that between February 2024 and March 2025, Yisawu indirectly converted $122,600 through Rasheed Yusuf of Rasheedat Anike Global Ventures, again allegedly in cash and outside the banking system.
“That you Jimoh Yisawu, the former Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd, between January and June 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, used the aggregate sum of N25,563,000 received into your Zenith Bank Plc Account No. 1003198602 and Access Bank Plc Account No. 0001283432 from Jkpeez Impex Co. (a contractor with subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd) when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended,” it added.
Other counts include: transferring N65,860,000 to Cordros Securities Limited to purchase treasury bills in his name; and retaining N15,000,000 and N3,000,000 respectively, paid into his Stanbic IBTC account by one Olasinka Fragene Justice on behalf of Ebenco Global Link Limited, described as “a contractor to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.”
For Dikko, the EFCC filed 12 charges, including allegations linked to transactions dating back to 2022.
The charges allege that in February 2024, he “indirectly made a cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218,375,000.00… to one Hadeija Bashir for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja,” without passing the funds through a financial institution.
He is also accused of retaining N100,000,000 and N90,000,000 in separate bank accounts from money paid by Ebenco Global Link Limited, a contractor to PHRC, and of disguising the origin of N90,000,000 through an Access Bank account “operated by Aisha Ahmed Dikko.”
Count 8 alleges that Dikko, alongside Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited, disguised the origin of N328,710,337.50 paid into a GTBank account by OMSA Integrated Services Limited “from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export.”
Further counts accuse him of taking possession of N59,200,000 from funds routed through Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited; procuring one Ebenezar Oluwagbemiga of Ebenco Global Link Limited to take possession of N356,412,500 on his behalf; converting $77,080 through Ibrahim Isa Yaro; and using his son’s GTBank account to take control of N20,000,000 paid by Ebenco Global Link Limited.
All the offences are said to contravene various sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
Crime
Bauchi Police Nab Two After Armed Gang Invades Home, Cart Away ₦4m Property
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers over their alleged involvement in a housebreaking and robbery operation in Gadau community, where a couple was tied up and valuables worth about ₦4 million were stolen.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the suspects were apprehended following an intelligence-led investigation.
According to the police, the case was reported on July 3, 2026, by a 28-year-old resident of Gadau Town, who alleged that the attack occurred in the early hours of June 8.
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Abubakar said, “On 3rd July, 2026, a 28-year-old complainant, male, resident of Gadau Town, reported at Gadau Division that on 8th June, 2026, at about 0300hrs, five unknown hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons broke into his residence.”
He explained that the armed men forced their way into the victim’s bedroom, threatened him and his wife with machetes, restrained them, and made away with several valuables.
The police spokesperson stated, “According to the complainant, the hoodlums forced open his bedroom door, intimidated him and his wife with machetes, tied them up, and carted away valuables. Items stolen include one Jincheng motorcycle, five Android mobile phones, 10 sets of wrappers, the sum of ₦1,000,000 cash, one cap, and three wristwatches, all valued at about ₦4,000,000.”
Following the report, detectives visited the scene and launched an intensive investigation, which led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Salisu Umar, 20, of Gadau Town, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, from Azare in Katagum Local Government Area.
Abubakar said, “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives visited the scene and commenced an intelligence-led investigation. As a result of diligent follow-up, two suspects were subsequently arrested.”
He added, “They are Salisu Umar, 20, of the same address, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, of Azare, Katagum Local Government Area. They underwent preliminary investigation at the Divisional Headquarters.”
The police further revealed that during an identification parade, the complainant’s wife positively identified one of the suspects.
“During an identification parade conducted, the complainant’s wife recognised and pointed out Sadiq Shehu as one of the persons who entered her room and forced her to open the main gate for the other accomplices,” Abubakar stated.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the Divisional Police Officer and his team for the successful operation and directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation.
The commissioner also assured residents that security operatives were making efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects still at large, stressing that everyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Bauchi State Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in combating criminal activities across the state.
Crime
Police Smash Robbery, Cybercrime Syndicate in Gombe, Arrest Eight Suspects
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested eight suspected members of a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in armed robbery and cyber-enabled financial fraud across several communities in the state.
The suspects were apprehended following investigations into a robbery incident reported on June 7, 2026, in Wuro Birji, Akko Local Government Area, where armed men reportedly invaded the homes of two residents, Hassan Muhammad and Jibril Hassan, wielding cutlasses and making away with their mobile phones.
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According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Buhari Abdullahi, the stolen devices were later used to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ bank accounts.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects fraudulently withdrew ₦296,790 from one victim’s GTBank account and also obtained a Quick Loan worth ₦205,205, bringing the total amount stolen to more than ₦500,000.
The command said a major breakthrough came after operatives conducted technical analysis of the fraudulent transactions and traced one of the transfers to a Moniepoint account.
The investigation led to the arrest of Mustapha Kabiru, popularly known as “Musty Bobo,” a 19-year-old ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.
According to the police, Kabiru confessed during interrogation that he used information obtained from stolen mobile phones to access victims’ bank accounts and carry out fraudulent transactions.
His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven additional suspects believed to be members of the same criminal network.
Further investigations revealed that the syndicate is allegedly linked to more than 13 similar robbery and cyber fraud incidents in Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala and Jauro Jatau communities.
The police said investigations are still ongoing, adding that efforts have been intensified to arrest other members of the syndicate who remain at large.
Commending the officers for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Umar Ahmed Chuso, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating violent crime and cybercrime.
)He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information and digital devices, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.





