By SpringNewsNG

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 73 properties and a trove of digital devices linked to a suspected cybercrime and money laundering syndicate operated by Chinese nationals under the name Genting International Co.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu granted the order on April 23, 2025, in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/382/2025, following an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, B.M. Isah.

The court-sanctioned forfeitures include a massive haul of digital and household items allegedly used to execute and support a sophisticated cybercrime operation. Among them were:

• 1,596 laptops/computers
• 4,091 mobile phones
• 350 foreign SIM cards
• 3,399 Nigerian SIM cards (including 1,122 MTN, 1,277 Airtel, 684 Glo, and 316 9mobile)

Also forfeited were:

• 194 routers, 205 sofas, 501 bunk beds, 754 mattresses
• 40 refrigerators, 10 microwaves, 16 inverter batteries, 14 inverters
• 43 CPUs/monitors, a ring light, 2 fuel tanks, a transformer, and 7 vehicles
• 411 deep freezers, 13 electric kettles, 21 UPS units, 2 TVs, 6 gas cylinders
• A blender, a spiral dough mixer, 3 weight scales, 2 double-burner stoves, a toaster, an air fryer, and a dining set
• 558 office tables and a network server

The order was granted under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, allowing for the interim seizure of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Justice Dipeolu stated:

“I have read the motion and attachments and find sufficient merit in the application. Consequently, the motion succeeds and is hereby granted.”

The court also directed the EFCC to publicize the forfeiture order in a national newspaper, inviting interested parties to show cause within 14 days why the seized assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

According to an 18-paragraph affidavit deposed by EFCC investigator Kaina Garba, the assets were recovered during a sting operation on December 10, 2024, at No. 7 Oyinjolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos—identified as the syndicate’s headquarters.

Investigations revealed that the Chinese-led group was allegedly running a cybercrime training centre, recruiting and training Nigerian youths to execute scams, including romance, dating, and investment frauds, using specially configured phones and computers.

Further discoveries linked the syndicate to additional properties at:

• No. 14 Modupe Alakija Crescent, Ikoyi
• Plot 1220 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island
• Plot 54A A.J. Marinho Drive, Victoria Island

The raid led to the arrest of 761 suspects, comprising both foreign nationals and Nigerians, while the alleged ringleaders remain at large but are actively being tracked by law enforcement.

This marks one of the largest cybercrime busts in Nigeria’s history, as the EFCC intensifies efforts to dismantle international criminal networks exploiting the country’s digital and financial systems.

Stay tuned to SpringNewsNG for updates on this developing story.