Thursday, February 12, 2026 - Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals identified as Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years’ imprisonment each for cyber terrorism and internet fraud.
In a statement released, the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission EFCC, said 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.
The agency said 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 include 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 1220 Bishop 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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