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Court dismisses N5bn suit by Chinese fraud suspects against EFCC
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By Francesca Hangeior.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a N5 billion suit brought by 110 alleged internet fraudsters against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for lack of merit.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, dismissed the suit because the applicants failed to prove they had been unlawfully detained after taking arguments from both parties.
In an originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/80/2025, the applicants sued the EFCC and its Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede.
The applicants are Zhang Xiaowen, Liu Zhiwei, Chen Yeqiu, Lan Shunbin, Abubakar Hassan, Igwe Ozioma, Gabriel Shimlumun, Abdulmuminu Usman, Olamide Olatoye, Jeremiah Abele, Asule James, Bitrus Joseph, Odeh Abel, Jathan Jayock, Jackson Samson, Isiaq Olanrewaju, Adejor Isah, Salihu Suleiman, Joseph Ojoma, Tanko Isah, Omoyele Ebenezer, Olisakwe Chieme, Ohikwo Fatima Musa, Faith Agada, Opara Cynthia, Blessing Thomas and Rachel Habila.
The group, which includes four Chinese nationals, was arrested inside a building in the Katampe District of Abuja on January 9.
According to the EFCC, the arrests followed intelligence reports suggesting the individuals were involved in fraudulent activities, including internet scams.
The agency further alleged that the Chinese nationals had recruited Nigerians to participate in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
The EFCC stated that while the suspects coordinated their operations from Nigeria, they used virtual private networks (VPNs) to defraud victims in the United Kingdom, posing as hoteliers.
Following their arrest, the applicants hired a legal team led by Ishaka Dikko (SAN) to enforce their fundamental human rights.
The applicants accused the EFCC of violating their rights to dignity, personal liberty, and fair hearing, as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 36, 43, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
They asked the court to declare that their detention from January 9 to 16 exceeded the constitutionally prescribed period and was therefore illegal and unlawful.
They sought ₦5 billion in damages.
The applicants also requested the court to declare that the seizure of their international passports—numbers E55480652, EL6128848, E91567245, and E99903655—during their detention was unlawful and contrary to Sections 36, 43, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Their lawyer argued that evidence before the court showed the EFCC obtained a remand order on January 10 and renewed it on January 24, after the initial order expired.
Responding, Justice Omotosho held that the remand orders were legally permissible, given the allegations that the applicants’ actions posed a threat to national security.
The judge also noted that the EFCC’s decision to grant administrative bail demonstrated it had no intention of detaining the applicants indefinitely.
He stated that the commission could not be held liable for the applicants’ failure to meet the bail conditions.
Justice Omotosho subsequently dismissed the fundamental rights enforcement suit and urged the applicants to respond to the allegations against them, which were deemed a threat to national security.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have, in the last 24 hours, rescued 34 kidnap victims, apprehended suspected ISWAP informants and recovered arms and ammunition in coordinated operations nationwide.
This is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
The report said that troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 31 kidnap victims from terrorists along the Buratai-Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno.
It said the rescue followed a swift response after troops of 135 Special Forces Battalion detected ISWAP/JAS terrorists abducting civilians from four vehicles through CCTV surveillance.
According to the report, troops immediately deployed a quick reaction force, engaged the terrorists and forced them to abandon the victims and flee, with one motorcycle left behind.
“In another operation, troops of 145 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to the Turoh general area of Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area.
“The terrorists reportedly fled on sighting the troops, leaving behind two motorcycles and illicit drugs recovered during exploitation of the area.
“Also, troops of 232 Battalion Tactical apprehended a suspected ISWAP informant at Garaha Market in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa,” it said.
In the North-West, the report revealed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA engaged terrorists moving with rustled cattle in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
It added that the troops’ superior firepower forced the terrorists to withdraw in disarray during the encounter.
The report also revealed that troops of Operation MESA rescued a kidnapped woman and her two children along the old Obajana-Jakura-Tajimi road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.
According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted on July 29 from a Ruga settlement in the Gada-Biyu area of the same local government.
“In Plateau State, troops of Operation Enduring Peace responded to reports of an attack on a herder in Bassa Local Government Area.
“The assailants had fled before the troops arrived, while the deceased and recovered cattle were handed over to the victim’s family,” it added.
In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation UDO KA recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected terrorists linked to the ambush of troops in Imo on May 4.
It added that the operation, conducted in Delta and Imo states, followed intelligence obtained from earlier arrested suspects.
According to the report, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, one FN rifle, a pistol, 11 AK-47 magazines, two FN magazines, 239 rounds of assorted ammunition, a fragmentation jacket and other military items from terrorist camps.
“The recovered weapons included rifles earlier carted away during the May ambush on troops, while further exploitation led to the discovery of another terrorist camp containing additional arms and ammunition,” it said.
A joint military task force has rescued a senior Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after an intensive 10-day search-and-rescue operation across forests and communities in Enugu State.
This was contained in a military operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Abuja.
The breakthrough came in the early hours of Saturday following sustained operations by troops of Sector 1, Operation UDO KA (OPUK).
The search mission involved personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Rear), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (NN SBS), and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, operating under the leadership of the Commander, 82 Division Garrison, with support from the Air Component.
According to the report, between 6:00 p.m. on July 31 and 6:00 a.m. on August 1, the joint troops continued search operations using actionable intelligence across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and adjoining communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.News
At about 2:00 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Inyi Division alerted the troops to the suspected location of the kidnapped victims.
The troops immediately mobilised and launched a fighting patrol into the area, where they discovered Lt. Col. Amobi and Mr. Onwuanra abandoned at the edge of a forest. The civilian was found with a gunshot wound.
The victims were successfully rescued and evacuated to Inyi before being moved to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for medical treatment and comprehensive evaluation.
During preliminary debriefing, the victims disclosed that they had been blindfolded shortly after their abduction and transported to an unknown location.
They said they were later abandoned in a forest around the Enugu–Anambra border as the kidnappers came under sustained operational pressure.
The military attributed the successful rescue to the relentless pressure mounted by the joint force, supported by the Air Component, which maintained continuous dominance of the suspected hideouts and denied the abductors freedom of movement throughout the 10-day operation.
The sustained search-and-rescue mission ultimately forced the kidnappers to abandon the captives and flee.
Further investigations and follow-up operations are ongoing to identify, track and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
Fire has engulfed Lagos airport’s Terminal 2.
FAAN said its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the fire.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement read.
“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation.”
FAAN said there were no reported casualties or loss of life.
“There have been no reported casualties or loss of life,” the authority stated.
It added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
Troops rescue 34 abductees, nab ISWAP informant, recover arms
Joint military task force rescue kidnapped Lt Col, civilian after 10-day search operation
JUST IN: Fire engulfs Lagos airport’s Terminal 2
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