The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving convicted Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement on the forfeiture secured by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu granted the order following an application filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa.

The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 8, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow any interested person or entity to show cause why the phones should not be permanently forfeited.

Moving the application for final forfeiture, Kofarnaisa told the court that the EFCC had complied with the directive by publishing the notice in The Guardian newspaper on August 11.

She said no individual or entity came forward to challenge the forfeiture within the period stipulated by the court.

An affidavit filed in support of the application by an EFCC investigating officer, Christopher Augustine, said the 431 phones were linked to a cyber-fraud operation allegedly involving Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths at a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the affidavit, the facility was allegedly used to train and deploy Nigerian youths and foreign nationals to carry out romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe.

The investigation followed a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, which led to the arrest of hundreds of people at the facility. Reports from the EFCC case said those arrested included Chinese and other foreign nationals alongside Nigerians.

The EFCC said Genting International Company Limited (GICL), allegedly controlled by Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and other foreign nationals, was linked to the operation.

Huang and GICL were subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering.

The Commission said Huang and GICL pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted and sentenced by the court.

The EFCC further told the court that the 431 devices were reasonably suspected to be proceeds or instruments of unlawful activities and were therefore liable to forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

After hearing the submissions and reviewing the evidence before the court, Justice Dipeolu held that the application had merit.

The judge consequently ordered the final forfeiture of the 431 mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones linked to a cyber-fraud operation involving convicted Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement on the forfeiture secured by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu granted the order following an application filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa.

The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 8, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow any interested person or entity to show cause why the phones should not be permanently forfeited.

Moving the application for final forfeiture, Kofarnaisa told the court that the EFCC had complied with the directive by publishing the notice in The Guardian newspaper on August 11.

She said no individual or entity came forward to challenge the forfeiture within the period stipulated by the court.

An affidavit filed in support of the application by an EFCC investigating officer, Christopher Augustine, said the 431 phones were linked to a cyber-fraud operation allegedly involving Chinese nationals and Nigerian youths at a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the affidavit, the facility was allegedly used to train and deploy Nigerian youths and foreign nationals to carry out romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe.

The investigation followed a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, which led to the arrest of hundreds of people at the facility. Reports from the EFCC case said those arrested included Chinese and other foreign nationals alongside Nigerians.

The EFCC said Genting International Company Limited (GICL), allegedly controlled by Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and other foreign nationals, was linked to the operation.

Huang and GICL were subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering.

The Commission said Huang and GICL pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted and sentenced by the court.

The EFCC further told the court that the 431 devices were reasonably suspected to be proceeds or instruments of unlawful activities and were therefore liable to forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

After hearing the submissions and reviewing the evidence before the court, Justice Dipeolu held that the application had merit.

The judge consequently ordered the final forfeiture of the 431 mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.