Court Jails 2 Chinese for 46 Years over N3.4Bn, $2.5M Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud

ByEditor

Feb 11, 2026 #An Hongxu, #cyberterrorism, #EFCC, #Genting International, #Huang Haoyu, #Internet Fraud, #Lagos court, #Nigerian fraud syndicate

Femi Ashekun/

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years in prison each for cyberterrorism and internet fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced.

Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the ruling following guilty pleas by both men, who were directors of Genting International Co. Ltd., a company implicated in a syndicate that defrauded victims of N3.4 billion and $2.5 million.

The two convicts, along with Friday Audu, were among a 792-member fraud syndicate arrested on December 19, 2024 during EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” in Lagos, which targeted cryptocurrency, investment, and romance scams.

Investigations revealed that Audu allegedly incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. at Haoyu’s direction to facilitate the fraudulent scheme.

EFCC said the syndicate procured Nigerian youths to pose as foreign nationals, targeting unsuspecting victims online.

The charges against the defendants included cyberterrorism, internet fraud, and money laundering under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended, 2024).

Initially, the defendants pleaded not guilty. However, during Wednesday’s court session, counsel for Haoyu and Hongxu, Bridget Omateno, informed the court they would change their pleas.

Both men then pleaded guilty, while Audu maintained his not guilty plea.

The prosecution, led by Bilikisu Bala-Buhari, urged the court to impose maximum sentences on the charges and requested the forfeiture of assets recovered from four properties linked to the syndicate.

These included 1,596 mobile phones, 2,120 office chairs, 544 office tables, 43 computers, a network server, 126 air-conditioning units, generators, vehicles, thousands of SIM cards, and hundreds of other electronic and household items, recovered from addresses in Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

Justice Osiagor sentenced Huang and Hongxu to 46 years’ imprisonment each, with an alternative fine of N56 million, and ordered three days of community service.

The court also directed their repatriation after serving their sentences.

The trial against Friday Audu continues, with the next hearing scheduled for April 29, 2026.