A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of over 1,500 computers, 4,000 mobile phones, several vehicles, and dozens of other items confiscated during the EFCC’s recent bust of a major cybercrime syndicate.
The items were recovered during the December 10, 2024 operation, dubbed “Eagle Flush,” which led to the arrest of 792 individuals—including 193 foreign nationals and 599 Nigerians—at the Big Leaf Building on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The EFCC said the group was allegedly involved in cryptocurrency scams, computer-related fraud, money laundering, and romance fraud.
Some of those apprehended have already been charged in court, with the company Genting International also named as a defendant in proceedings involving Chinese and Filipino suspects.
EFCC counsel, Bima Isah, moved an ex parte application seeking the interim forfeiture of the assets, citing intelligence that pointed to “a large-scale fraud operation involving foreign nationals in Lagos.”
The anti-graft agency told the court that Genting International Co. Limited helped finance the syndicate’s operations, and that the assets were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”
Justice Deinde Dipeolu, after considering the EFCC’s application, granted the request.
The judge said the application, filed under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006, had merit.
He further ordered that the EFCC publish the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to appear in court and prove why the listed items should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Among the assets seized are 3,399 SIM cards (1,122 MTN, 316 9mobile, 1,277 Airtel, 684 Glo), 194 routers, 129 air conditioning units, 40 refrigerators, 14 inverters, and 7 generators.
Also included are 205 sofas, 501 bunk beds, 754 mattresses, 10 microwaves, 2 whiteboards, 16 inverter batteries, 43 CPUs/monitors, and a variety of household and office equipment like a ring light, toaster, blender, and spiral dough mixer.
In an affidavit attached to the application, EFCC investigator Kaina Garba stated that the seizure was necessary to prevent the suspects or their associates from tampering with or disposing of the assets, which were used to commit cybercrimes.
“That upon investigation, preliminary investigation revealed that an organized crime syndicate of Chinese nationals operating under the name and style of the Respondent is recruiting and training Nigerian youths in computer-related fraud and other cyber-fraud-related activities,” the affidavit noted.
It further explained, “That investigation revealed that upon the Respondent recruiting and training the Nigerian youths, a computer system and a mobile phone with a dedicated and specially configured line is assigned to each recruit wherein they are trained to study and master all kinds of scripted formats which involves dating, romance and investment scam fraud.”
The EFCC stated that based on intelligence, it executed a coordinated sting operation on December 10 at No. 7 Oyinjolayemi Street, Victoria Island, believed to be the syndicate’s base of operations.
“That in the course of the investigation, operatives of the Applicant took inventories of items recovered from the said premises suspected to be instrumentalities of the criminal activities of the Respondent and its alter egos,” the affidavit continued.
“That several foreign nationals, as well as Nigerians, totalling 761 suspects, were arrested and brought to the office of the Commission for investigation.
“That the suspected leaders and financiers of this criminal syndicate, up until the filing of this application still at large but are being trailed by the Operatives of the applicant.”
The EFCC also said that investigations are ongoing, particularly to identify and arrest the main figures behind the fraud operations.
In granting the interim forfeiture, Justice Dipeolu ruled “I have read the motion and attachments and find sufficient merit in the application. Consequently, the motion succeeds and is hereby granted.”
