Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, has directed that the final forfeiture order for 431 mobile phones linked to a cyber fraud syndicate traced to China be published. The publication serves as a notice of claim for any person or company with an interest in the items to appear before the Court.
The directive follows a request by the EFCC’s counsel, who asked the Court to publish the notice of the order dated 8th July 2026. The agency was directed to place the notice in the newspaper for one week. Counsel also informed the Court that nobody had shown interest in the phones after the advertisement ran as directed.
Details of the Case
The case, marked FHC/LAG/MISC/990/2026, was brought as a proceeding in rem, meaning it is filed against the property itself and not against a named person. The EFCC submitted that the 431 phones were part of property subject to a civil forfeiture order.
According to the agency, a formal final order was needed after the interim forfeiture order was published on 8th July 2026. Until the Court directs otherwise, the phones remain in EFCC custody. The agency therefore asked that the final order of forfeiture be published for notice in the Nigeria Tribune.
What the Investigating Officer Said
In his affidavit supporting the application, the investigating officer, Christopher Augustine, stated that the phones were among illicit properties and proceeds of crime traceable to HK, a company based in Victoria Island, Lagos. The applicant said the phones were part of a larger haul that included 500 laptops, 400 mobile phones and local recharge cards, all intercepted during the EFCC’s December 2024 raid on a seven-storey building in Victoria Island.
The affidavit alleges that the suspects were foreign nationals from China, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Pakistan, who opened the HK company in Lagos with help from other Chinese residents. The syndicate was accused of running more than 500 scam-modified laptops, 400 mobile phones and local telecom cards in connection with romance, dating and cryptocurrency scams.
What Is Civil Forfeiture?
Civil forfeiture lets the State take ownership of property believed to be proceeds of crime or tools used in crime. The Court first issues an interim order, then a notice is published so any genuine owner can come forward. If nobody makes a valid claim, the Court can make the order final. That is the stage this case has now reached.
Why This Matters
These phones are the final items to be forfeited from the seizure. The EFCC has been active in technology-related cases, especially internet fraud and money laundering. According to the agency, cyber fraud cases in Nigeria, particularly advance fee fraud, often involve foreign elements, since perpetrators usually operate from abroad while many staff are based in Lagos.
For ordinary Nigerians, the case is also a reminder to stay alert to romance and crypto scams. Never send money to someone you have only met online, and verify any investment offer before you pay.
