The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the remand of a Nigerian, two Chinese, and their company, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly conspiring to destabilise Nigeria’s economic structure.

Justice Daniel Osiagor ordered their remand after they took their plea on 12 counts of cybercrime, preferred against them by the EFCC.

The defendants are Huang Haoyu, Friday Audu, An Hongxu and a company, Gentting International Ltd.

The defendants are standing trial before Justice Osiagor on 12 counts of cybercrime.

The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in 2024 in Lagos.

She said they allegedly conspired with one Dualiang Pan, who is now at large, and wilfully caused to be assessed, computer systems, organised to destabilise Nigeria’s economic structure.

The defendants were alleged to have procured Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities.

The EFCC also alleged that they procured one Chukwuemeka Okeke to retain the sum of $1.2m in his crypto wallet, which sum they ought to know formed part of fraudulent activities.

They were alleged to have procured one Alhassan Garba and Ifesinachi Jacobs, to retain the sum of $1.3m in their crypto wallet, being proceeds of crime.

The commission further alleged that they retained in the Union Bank account of Genting International Ltd the sum of N3.4 bn, which also formed part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.

Buhari alleged that they transferred, among others, the sums of N106m, and N913m to Dualiang’s UBA account, which also formed proceeds of their fraudulent activities.

The transfer, as well as several other transfers, was said to be made from Gentting Ltd.

Besides, the defendants were said to have illegally negotiated a foreign exchange transaction with one Alhassan Garba, to the dollar equivalent of N1.1 bn, N962m as well as other sums.

The EFCC alleged that they engaged in foreign exchange without going through the official foreign exchange market authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

All monies are said to have formed part of the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 29(2) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004, sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act 2015, as well as Section 18(2)(d) and 21(c) of the Money Laundering Act 2021.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently, Justice Osiagor ordered the defendants to be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail.

He adjourned the case until March 20, 2025, for the hearing of the defendants’ bail application.

The Nigeria Police Force has declared Hafsat Kabir Lawal and Baba Sule Sadiq wanted for alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, fraud, and impersonation, according to a special bulletin issued by the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

The wanted notice, issued by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, Abuja, on Saturday via X, called for public assistance in locating and apprehending the suspects.

The bulletin stated, “Lawal, 37, is a female of Hausa/Fulani descent from Katsina State. She has a fair complexion, black hair, and black eyes, with no distinctive marks recorded.

“Sadiq, 44, is a male of Hausa/Fulani descent from Kaduna State. He has a dark complexion, black hair, and black eyes, with no distinctive marks recorded.”

The bulletin also stated that the last known addresses of the suspects are No. 6 Kamba Close, Unguwar Dosa, Kaduna, and No. 2B Ramat Close B, Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna.

Police authorities have urged anyone with information regarding their whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the FCT Police Command directly at 0901 779 2221 or 0811 111 4878.

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Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has raised concerns about the sustained funding and international support enabling Boko Haram and other terror groups to destabilise the country for over 15 years.

General Musa raised the concerns in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, monitored by our correspondent.

The CDS called on the United Nations (UN) to investigate the sources of funding and resources used by the insurgents, noting that many surrendered fighters were in possession of a significant amount of foreign currencies.

“We have talked to international communities; let’s find out the funding. As we speak, over 120,000 Boko Haram members have surrendered, and most of them came with hard currency. How did they get it? How are they funded? How did they get the training? How did they get the equipment?” General Musa questioned.

He emphasised that only the UN has the capacity and jurisdiction to trace and track the international financial flows supporting Boko Haram’s operations. “The UN needs to come in because we need to trace the funding,” he stated. “It is international flow, and we (Nigeria) don’t have control over that.”

The Defence Chief also hinted at a possible international conspiracy fueling the insurgency in Nigeria. “Maybe an international conspiracy—who knows? How are they able to sustain themselves for 15 years? That is one question I think everybody should ask,” the CDS added.

Recall that General Musa, during his visit to the frontline units under Operation Safe Haven in Kaduna and Plateau atates, said the fight against insecurity would be better in 2025, noting that 2024 was challenging. He also said he wanted to see a renewed and greater vigour in the fight against insurgency in the new year 2025.

Yobe State Police Command has arrested five members of a syndicate specialising in defrauding unsuspecting victims.

 

Police Public Relations Officer, of the Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Damaturu, the Yobe state Capital.

 

Abdulkarim named the suspects as Abdullahi Suleman, 62; Sani Salisu, 30; Nasiru Mohd, 30; all from Gombe State.

 

The rest are Alhasan Illiya, 55 from Potiskum local government area of Yobe State and 43-year-old Weti Mohd from Ngorore in Adamawa State.

 

They were apprehended on January 6, 2025 at about 1630hrs by the joint operations of the State Intelligence Department (SID) and Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters.

 

According to the statement, the suspects’ modus operandi involves approaching targets, pretending to be travelers seeking assistance, and subsequently deceiving them into parting with large sums of money under the guise of performing fetish work to ward off enemies and bring prosperity.

 

The syndicate’s latest victim, Mallam Audu Shehu of Shekau Village in Tarmuwa LGA was defrauded of N500,000.

 

However, police said the stolen money was recovered intact during a search of the suspects’ possessions.

 

The suspects confessed to the crime, revealing that this was their first operation in Yobe State, although they had been active in Adamawa, Gombe, and Taraba States for over three years.

 

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Garba Ahmed reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring security and safety in the state.

 

He urged the public to be cautious of impostors posing as marabouts or security agents to defraud community members.

 

The Command also advised residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station and remain vigilant.

 

Items recovered from the suspects include a Mercedes-Benz saloon car, a bunch of paper notes, cash of N500,000.00 and six granite pebbles.

 

Police said investigation is ongoing for subsequent prosecution of the suspects.