EFCC Arraigns 14 Filipinos Over Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud  

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 14 Filipinos and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State on charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The anti-graft agency disclosed on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday where it unveiled defendants as Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Jonalyn Mendoza, Dominique Medina, Rachelle Cabalona, Krystel Aquilesca, Caselyn Pionela, Raizza Camara, Danica Silad, Reyna Mae Eriba, Chynna Samonte, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, Sevien Cire Renovilla, and Rose-Ann Gonzales.

EFCC said the Filipinos were part of the 792-member syndicate of alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects who were arrested on December 10, 2024, in Lagos by its operatives in a surprise operation tagged: “Eagle Flush Operation”.

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The defendants were arraigned on separate charges, bordering on cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence, and identity theft.

The charge against Cruz read: “That you, Mary Grace Dela Cruz, and Genting International Co. Ltd sometimes in December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, willfully caused to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria when you procured/employed Nigerian youths for identity theft and to hold themselves out as persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As amended 2024) and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.

That of Aquilesca reads: “That you, Krystel Aquilesca, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with the intent to gain a financial advantage for your employer fraudulently impersonated one ‘TETEEL’ by holding yourself out as such, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”

All the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which the prosecution counsel, M.K Bashir, N.K. Ukoha, and Bilkisu Buhari, respectively, prayed the court for trial dates and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre.

Justice Kakaki subsequently adjourned the matter till March 13, 2025 for trial, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre.