The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals and directors of Genting International Co. Limited, Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and An Hongxu, to 46 years imprisonment each for their roles in a multi-billion-naira cybercrime and money laundering scheme.
Justice Daniel Osiagor, who delivered the decision, gave the prisoners the option of paying a N56 million fine. He also ordered them to perform three days of community service and to be returned to China once they had served their sentences and completed the duty.
The two were among 792 alleged Internet and cryptocurrency fraudsters apprehended by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission agents in Lagos in December 2024.
However, Audu Friday, a third defendant, has pleaded not guilty and will face trial.
During Wednesday’s hearings, defense counsel Bridget Omateno informed the court that Huang and An had decided to modify their pleas from not guilty to guilty.
“The first and third defendants have decided to change their pleas. We urge the court to direct that the charges be read to them afresh,” she said.
Even though no plea bargain was struck, the judge allowed the request. After the seven-count accusation was read again, Huang and Hongxu pled guilty, while Friday maintained his innocence.
Bilkisu Bala-Buhari, the EFCC prosecutor, urged the court to convict the couple based on their admissions of guilt.
“The prosecution had earlier called two witnesses before the change of plea,” she said, adding that counts one and two attract life imprisonment, while counts three and four carry 14-year jail terms.
“I humbly pray your lordship to impose the maximum sentence on the convicts in order to serve as a deterrent to the public,” she added.
In his verdict, Justice Osiagor convicted the two men and sentenced each to a cumulative 46 years in prison, with an option of a N56m fine.
“The convicts shall undertake three days of community service and shall be repatriated to their country of origin after serving their sentences and completing the community service,” the judge ordered.
The court also allowed the prosecution’s motion to seize assets recovered during the inquiry.
Items forfeited to the federal government include 1,596 mobile phones, 2,120 office chairs, 544 office tables, 194 routers, 43 computer systems, a network server, 126 air-conditioning units, generators, vehicles, hundreds of mattresses and bunk beds, thousands of SIM cards from various networks, and other electronic and household items.
The articles were found in a variety of locales, including Oyin Jolayemi Street and Bishop Oluwole Street on Victoria Island, A.J. Marinho Drive, and Modupe Alakija Crescent in Ikoyi.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2024 to illegally access computer systems and recruit Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals online for financial gain, an act that is said to jeopardize Nigeria’s economic and social stability and violates the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
They were also accused of laundering fraudulent proceeds, including $1,262,000 USDT in a Binance wallet and $1,300,203 USDT in a Bybit wallet.
The prosecution claims that between August and December 2024, the defendants kept N3,407,824,740.78 in Genting International’s Union Bank account, allegedly from illegal activities.
They also transferred N913.9m to an associate, Duliang Pan, who is still at large, and N106.95m to Lagos Oriental Hotel Limited.
The case against Friday and the company is expected to continue on separate charges.
