EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture Of 431 Phones From Convicted Chinese Cyber-Fraudsters In Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to convicted Chinese cyber-fraud operators to the Federal Government.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued the forfeiture order on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following a motion filed by the EFCC.

The phones were recovered from a large-scale cyber-fraud operation involving Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths at a facility identified as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC had earlier obtained an interim forfeiture order on July 8, 2026, with the court directing the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper for interested parties to show cause.

EFCC counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa, told the court that the Commission complied by publishing the notice in The Guardian newspaper on August 11, 2026, adding that no individual or entity came forward to contest the forfeiture.

The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by EFCC operative, Christopher Augustine, who detailed the investigation.

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According to the affidavit, the facility in Victoria Island was used to train and deploy Nigerian youths and foreign nationals to carry out romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe.

He disclosed that a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, led to the arrest of over 700 suspects, including about 500 Nigerians, 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos and other foreign nationals.

The EFCC said Genting International Company Limited, GICL, allegedly controlled by a Chinese national, Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, was behind the operation.

Huang and GICL were subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to SCUML, illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering. They pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced by the court.

The Commission argued that the 431 devices were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were subject to forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Justice Dipeolu, after reviewing the submissions and affidavit evidence, held that the application had merit and ordered final forfeiture of the phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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