The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to convicted Chinese cyber-fraud operators to the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency stated on Wednesday that Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, granted the forfeiture order on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following an application it made through its counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 8, directing the Commission to publish a notice inviting interested parties to show cause why the devices should not be permanently forfeited. The EFCC said the notice was published in The Guardian on August 11, with no challenge received.
The devices were linked to a cyber-fraud operation at a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos, allegedly used to train Nigerian youths and foreign nationals for romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud. A sting operation at the facility on December 10, 2024, led to the arrest of more than 700 suspects, including about 500 Nigerians, 148 Chinese and 40 Filipinos.
According to an affidavit filed by EFCC operative Christopher Augustine, Chinese national Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and Genting International Company Limited were among those allegedly involved in the operation.
They were subsequently charged with offences including cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering, to which they pleaded guilty and were convicted.
The EFCC said the 431 phones were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were therefore subject to forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
After hearing the EFCC’s submissions and reviewing the evidence, Justice Dipeolu held that the application had merit and ordered the 431 mobile phones permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
