The Federal High Court in Lagos has recently granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an interim forfeiture order for 73 properties and a plethora of gadgets, totaling to 1,596, all of which are linked to cybercrime and money laundering activities involving Chinese suspects. Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the order on April 23, 2025, in response to an ex parte motion filed by EFCC counsel B.M. Isah against Genting International Co.
The forfeited items include a wide range of electronic devices such as computers/laptops, mobile phones, and SIM cards, alongside household items like sofas, mattresses, refrigerators, and more. The EFCC also secured the seizure of vehicles, office equipment, kitchen appliances, and various other items during the raid.
In addition to the physical assets, the court also instructed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper and gave interested parties a 14-day window to show cause as to why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The application for the interim forfeiture was made under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, citing the need to prevent the further proliferation of cybercrime and money laundering activities in the country as the main reason.
According to EFCC investigator Kaina Garba, the assets were seized during a sting operation at a property located in Victoria Island, Lagos, which was allegedly being used as the headquarters for the cybercrime syndicate. The syndicate, said to be spearheaded by Chinese nationals posing as Genting International, was reportedly training Nigerian youths in various online scams, including romance and investment fraud.
Further investigations led to the discovery of more properties linked to the group in different upscale locations in Lagos, with a total of 761 suspects, both foreign and Nigerian, being arrested during the raids. The leaders and financiers of the syndicate are currently on the run but are under active pursuit by law enforcement agencies.
Garba emphasized the importance of granting the interim forfeiture in the public interest, citing the increasing threat of cybercrime and money laundering activities in the country. The court’s decision to grant the order aligns with the EFCC’s efforts to crackdown on organized crime and illicit financial activities, particularly those involving international syndicates.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime and money laundering activities, which often involve sophisticated networks operating across borders. The EFCC’s success in securing the interim forfeiture order is a step towards dismantling such criminal operations and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.