The expected arraignment of 34-year-old Chinese national Liao Zhang and a corporation, Genting International Co. Limited, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the suspected use of a computer to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional structure was halted on Tuesday due to a lack of legal representation.
The EFCC filed a case against Zhang and Genting International Co. Limited in the Federal High Court in Lagos.
When asked if he had a lawyer to represent him, Zhang said that he did not have one.
He was then asked whether he could contact family or friends to help him find a lawyer, to which he replied that he couldn’t remember anyone and didn’t have his phone with him.
Justice Olayinka Faji, who presided over the hearing, then inquired as to how long Zhang had been in Nigeria.
He replied that he’d been in the country for six months, staying in hotels.
When asked what he had been doing in Nigeria, Zhang stated he had been looking for work throughout his stay.
He went on to explain that when he first arrived in Nigeria, he planned to start a business but ended up in his current situation.
“I have been looking for a job for the past six months in Nigeria. Initially, when I arrived in Nigeria, I wanted to start a business, but I found myself here,” Zhang said.
Previously, when the case was called, the EFCC’s attorney, Temitope Banjo, announced his appearance for the prosecution, but the defendant had no legal representation.
The EFCC charged Zhang with crimes allegedly committed in December 2024.
Zhang was accused by the commission of willfully accessing a computer system with the intent to disrupt and destroy Nigeria’s economy and social structure.
According to the EFCC, Zhang’s acts violated sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015, as well as section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Justice Faji also directed the prosecutor, Banjo, to submit proof of service for the corporation, Genting International Co. Limited, the second defendant.
The case was adjourned until March 13, 2025, for the presentation of evidence of service for Genting International Co. Limited and the possible arraignment of Zhang.
In another instance involving a Chinese national, Zhang Hua Zhai, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission asked the court not to give him bail, citing worries about his flight risk.
When the case was brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, counsel for the EFCC, announced her appearance for the prosecution, while Mr. Olumide Olaiya stood for the defense.
Buhari informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial.
However, Olaiya informed the court that he had filed a motion for bail on behalf of the defendant, which had been served to the prosecution.
Olaiya explained that the bail application, dated February 1, 2025, sought to grant Zhai bail on liberal terms.
The defense counsel further submitted that the bail application had a written address dated February.
Olaiya argued, “We urge the court to grant the defendant bail; he has a passport and credible sureties.”
In response, the prosecutor, Mrs. Buhari, opposed the bail motion, citing Zhai’s flight danger.
She stated, “We do not have the defendant’s passport. He arrived on a visiting visa, as he has stated, and he even escaped from his own country. It is in our affidavit that if the defendant is released, my lord, we will not be able to locate him.”
Buhari said, “We humbly pray that the bail application be denied.”
