…EFCC Arraigns 58 Foreign Nationals For Alleged Fraud, Other Offenses
A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim forfeiture order on digital assets worth $222,729.86, allegedly linked to fraudulent activities involving Chinese and Filipino nationals.
The order was granted following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). EFCC’s counsel, Zeenat Atiku, informed the court that the application was made under Section 44(2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14, 2016.
Justice Alexander Owoeye, in granting the order, directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to present their claims within 14 days. Failure to do so may result in the assets being permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The case was adjourned to March 7, 2025, for a compliance report.
In a related development, the EFCC has arraigned 58 foreign nationals, including Chinese and Filipino individuals, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on charges of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to disrupt Nigeria’s constitutional order.
The defendants were arraigned separately before Justices Ayokunle Faji, Chukwujekwu Aneke, Denide Dipeolu, and Alexander Owoeye. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, the judges ordered their remand at the Nigeria Correctional Centres and scheduled their trials for February 20, 21, 24, 28, and March 18, 2025.
