14 Filipinos Docked For Alleged Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned 14 Filipinos, for their alleged involvement in acts of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The anti-graft agency’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that the suspects, alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The suspects are part of the 792-member syndicate of alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects, arrested on December 10, 2024 in Lagos by operatives of the EFCC in a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation”.
They are: Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Jonalyn Mendoza, Dominique Medina, Rachelle Cabalona, Krystel Aquilesca, Caselyn Pionela, Raizza Camara, Danica Silad, Reyna Mae Eriba, Chynna Samonte, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, Sevien Cire Renovilla, and Rose-Ann Gonzales.
The defendants were arraigned on separate charges, bordering on cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence, and identity theft.
Mary Grace Dela Cruz was accused of employing Nigerian youths to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for her, the employees and the company, thereby contravening Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.
That of Aquilesca reads: “That you, Krystel Aquilesca, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for your employer fraudulently impersonated one ‘TETEEL’ by holding yourself out as such, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which prosecution counsel, M.K Bashir, N.K. Ukoha, and Bilkisu Buhari, respectively, prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional center.
Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter till March 13, 2025 for trial, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional center.
