Ola Akinwunmi
In a significant development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 14 Filipino nationals and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd, before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State. The charges encompass cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The defendants—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—are alleged members of a syndicate involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams. They were apprehended during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” on December 10, 2024, which led to the arrest of 792 suspects, including 193 foreign nationals.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that the syndicate operated from a high-rise building on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. The facility was reportedly used to train Nigerian operatives in executing scams targeting victims worldwide.
The defendants face multiple charges, including cyber-terrorism, impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, and identity theft. One specific allegation involves willfully accessing computer systems to destabilize Nigeria’s constitutional structure by recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft.
During the court proceedings, all defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. The prosecution has requested trial dates and the remand of the accused in appropriate correctional facilities. Justice Kakaki has adjourned the case, setting trial dates for February 7, 14, and 21, 2025. The defendants have been remanded at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Correctional Centres pending trial.
This case underscores the EFCC’s intensified efforts to combat cybercrime and protect Nigeria’s digital infrastructure from both domestic and international threats.
