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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones allegedly linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths. Justice Deinde Dipeolu granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s application on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, directing that the devices be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC brought the application under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution. The case, marked FHC/LAG/MISC/990/2026, was filed as an action in rem, with the commission arguing that the phones were allegedly proceeds or instruments of unlawful activities.
In an affidavit filed in support of the application, EFCC investigator Christopher Augustine alleged that the devices were connected to a cyber-fraud network operating from a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the commission, the facility contained hundreds of laptops and mobile phones and was allegedly used for romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and investment scams. The EFCC also alleged that Nigerian youths were recruited and trained to participate in the activities.
The commission further alleged that the operation targeted victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe through phishing and online communications. It linked the investigation to Genting International Company Limited, which the EFCC said was controlled by Chinese national Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken. The agency alleged that about 200 Chinese nationals worked as recruiters and supervisors and that Nigerian recruits were assigned foreign telephone numbers to communicate with potential victims through WhatsApp.
The EFCC said a major operation in December 2024 led to the arrest of more than 700 people, including Chinese, Nigerian, Filipino, Kyrgyz and Pakistani nationals. The commission later prosecuted Huang Haoyu and Genting International Company Limited over charges including cyber-terrorism, internet fraud and money laundering. Huang and the company subsequently pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced, according to the EFCC’s account of the case.
The commission said further investigations led to the discovery of the additional 431 phones. It approached the court on July 8, 2026, for an interim forfeiture order, which Justice Dipeolu granted. The EFCC said it subsequently published the order in The Guardian newspaper on August 11, 2026, giving anyone claiming an interest in the devices an opportunity to challenge the forfeiture.
After the period allowed for objections elapsed, the EFCC returned to court to seek final forfeiture. The commission argued that the law permits non-conviction-based forfeiture of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds or instruments of unlawful activity. After hearing the application, Justice Dipeolu granted the EFCC’s request and ordered the 431 mobile phones finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
