Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded 13 Chinese nationals over alleged impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

The judge ordered the remand of the defendants after they pleaded not guilty to the various charges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against them.

The defendants were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Limited.

The Chinese nationals arraigned yesterday are: Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (aka Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (aka You), Zhang Xiao Lei, Liu San Hua, Chen Wenyuan (aka Lee05mx20), Yang Sheng (Madison), and Rheeigh De La Vega (aka Rheignalyn).

The defendants were said to be among suspected fraudsters apprehended on December 10, 2024 by the EFCC at 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence. The EFCC’s legal team, consisting of Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Aso Larry Peters, T. J. Banjo, M. K. Bashir, and I. N. Ukoha, accused the defendants of violating sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 as amended in 2024.

Buhari-Bala arraigned the first, fifth, and sixth defendants; Aso Larry Peters arraigned the fifth, seventh, and eighth defendants; T. J. Banjo arraigned the ninth and 10th defendants; M. K. Bashir arraigned the 11th and 12th defendants; while I. N. Ukoha arraigned the 13th defendant.

After the charges were read to each defendant individually, all except Wang Zheng Ming pleaded not guilty.

Wang Zheng Ming rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer and requested time to hire his defence counsel.

A block of classrooms at Okaro Primary School, Urhonigbe, Edo State, was completely razed down by a mysterious fire.

The incident that occurred over the weekend, resulted in significant damage to the affected block of classrooms.

The Executive Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Onomen Goodness Briggs, disclosed the incident in a statement she made available to journalists in Benin, the state capital.

Briggs who expressed sadness over the incident, stated that no injuries have been reported, as the fire occurred over the weekend outside school hours and no students or staff were present at the time.

She disclosed that a high-level fact-finding team has been deployed by SUBEB to unravel the cause of the fire and to assess the extent of the destruction and determine the necessary interventions.

According to the SUBEB chairman, the fact-finding team will conduct a thorough on-site assessment to guide the government’s next steps.

“The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time, but investigations are currently being conducted by the relevant authorities within SUBEB.

“SUBEB is actively exploring alternative arrangements to ensure that pupils can continue their education without significant delays.

“Details of these arrangements will be communicated to parents, guardians, and the public as soon as they are finalized.

“We deeply appreciate the support and concern expressed by members of the Urhonigbe community and assure them that SUBEB is working diligently to restore normal operations at the school as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

Seven persons were on Monday arraigned before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin and charged with the alleged murder of Awesu Mojisola, a final year student of Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, in Offa Local Government Area of the state.

Those charged before the court included Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole, who were the prime suspects, as well as Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, who were the two parents of Happiness while Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat and Peter Bulus who were the three workers of the Hotel where the late Mojisola was allegedly murdered.

The seven accused persons were slammed with six count charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, murder, disappearance and destruction of evidence and dumping of the corpse at a dump site.

They were accused of conspiring and causing the death of Awesu Mojisola on August 9, 2024.

The offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 97,221,167 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006 and Section 9 of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law 2018.

When the case came up at the Court on Monday, Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Ayoola Akande, who led five other lawyers, announced his appearance for the prosecution while Barrister F.A Ahmed and A.I, Orisankoko, appeared for the parents and hotel workers.

However, the case could not go on, and no plea was taken from the seven accused persons because there was no legal representation for Happiness and Timileyin, who were the prime suspects.

The presiding judge in the case, Justice Adebayo Yusuf, therefore ruled, “The principal accused persons, Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole, be remanded in correctional facility while the case was adjourned till February, 24,2025 for proper arraignment of the accused persons.”

It is recalled that the deceased, Awesu Mojisola, was allegedly lured to Ilorin by one Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole and was later murdered before her corpse was dumped at a dump site in Warah community, Ilorin, between August 8 and 9,2024.

Happiness Adebayo and his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, were accused of conspiring and causing the disappearance and destruction of evidence punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.

Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat and Peter Bulus were accused of conspiring and dumping the corpse of Mojisola Awesu at a dump site along Warah Road, Ilorin, punishable under the Kwara state Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.