The suspects were arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday. Reports indicate that another group of foreign nationals is set to face similar charges before different judges on Monday.
Charges and Allegations
The EFCC’s legal team, led by Larry Peters Aso and Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, presented charges against the defendants under Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).
The accused include:
- Wanq Jia Qi (aka Xiao Tian)
- Wang Zheng Ming
- Liyin Hui
- Xiao Hong Will
- Zhang Xiuo Lei
- Ling Yang (aka Long Shao Ming)
- Guo Xiao Fei
- Yang Sheng
- Wang Zheng Feng (aka Feng)
- Chen Wenyuan
- Liu Sau Hua
- Luo Jia You (aka You)
- Rheign Dela Vega (aka Rheignal)
They are accused of recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft, fraudulently posing as foreign nationals to deceive victims for financial gain.
Court Proceedings
With the help of an interpreter, the charges were read in Mandarin, and all defendants pleaded not guilty. However, one suspect, Wang Zheng Ming, rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer, requesting time to hire his own legal representation.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 3, 7, 14, and 21 for trial. Meanwhile, the defendants have been ordered to remain in Nigerian Correctional Centres pending their bail hearings.