The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 1,596 computers and laptops, 4,091 phones, seven vehicles, and approximately 70 other assets seized during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) “Eagle Flush Operation” on December 10, 2024. The operation led to the arrest of 792 individuals, including 193 foreign nationals and 599 Nigerians, at the Big Leaf Building in Victoria Island, Lagos, for alleged cryptocurrency investment fraud, computer-related fraud, money laundering, and romance scams.
The assets, linked to a syndicate allegedly financed through Genting International Co. Limited, were described by EFCC counsel Bima Isah as “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.” The court, presided over by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, granted the EFCC’s ex parte application under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006. The judge also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to contest the permanent forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.
Among the seized items are 3,399 SIM cards, 194 routers, 129 air conditioning units, 40 refrigerators, 14 inverters, seven generators, 205 sofas, 501 double-step bunks, 754 mattresses, 411 deep freezers, and various other household and office equipment. The EFCC alleged that these items were used by a criminal syndicate, primarily composed of Chinese nationals, to perpetrate cybercrimes.
In an affidavit sworn by EFCC investigator Kaina Garba, the agency revealed that intelligence pointed to an organized crime syndicate recruiting and training Nigerian youths in computer-related fraud, including dating, romance, and investment scams. Each recruit was allegedly assigned a computer and a specially configured phone line to execute scripted fraud schemes. The sting operation targeted the syndicate’s suspected headquarters at 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island.
The EFCC reported that 761 suspects were arrested and are under investigation, while the syndicate’s leaders and financiers remain at large but are being pursued. Some of the arrested individuals have been arraigned before five Federal High Court judges alongside Genting International, which is linked to fraudulent activities involving Chinese and Filipino nationals.