A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years in prison each for cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Justice Daniel Osiagor convicted and sentenced the two men, describing their crimes as a serious threat to Nigeria’s economic and social stability.
The two men were among 792 suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operation codenamed “Eagle Flush,” which targeted cryptocurrency, investment, and romance fraud syndicates operating in Lagos.
According to investigators, the syndicate recruited Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals and defraud victims through online platforms. Authorities also found that Genting International Co. Ltd. was allegedly incorporated at the instruction of Huang Haoyu to facilitate the illegal activities.
The EFCC arraigned the defendants alongside Friday Audu and Genting International Co. Ltd. on seven counts bordering on cyberterrorism, internet fraud, and money laundering involving N3.4 billion and $2.56 million.
Although the defendants initially pleaded not guilty, Haoyu and Hongxu later changed their pleas to guilty during the resumed hearing. Audu, however, maintained his innocence.
Following the guilty pleas, the prosecution asked the court to impose the maximum penalty and order the forfeiture of items recovered during the investigation.
The seized items included over 1,500 mobile phones, thousands of office and household equipment, computer systems, routers, generators, vehicles, SIM cards, and other electronic devices recovered from locations in Victoria Island and Ikoyi.
