- Agency Report
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) investigator, Mrs Rasheeda Chindaya, has on Wednesday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court how Friday Audu allegedly coordinated an international cryptocurrency fraud network.
Chindaya told Justice Rahman Oshodi that the alleged investment and romance scam led to the arrest of 792 suspects in December 2024.
The witness gave the testimony while being led in evidence by EFCC lead counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari.
Audu is standing trial alongside Genting International Ltd. on amended eight-count charges of forgery, impersonation, fraudulent documents and computer-related fraud.
Chindaya, the seventh prosecution witness, said investigations showed Genting International Ltd., presented as a gaming company, was allegedly used for large-scale cyber fraud.
She told the court the company initially had Nasiru Barau and one Yakubu (full name not revealed) as directors before their removal and replacement with Ifeanyi and Matthew in 2025.
Ifeanyi’s and Matthew’s full names were equally not revealed by the EFCC investigator.
According to Chindaya, bank searches revealed that the BVN linked to Genting’s accounts matched Audu’s BVN and was connected to about 10 corporate accounts.
She said bank responses confirmed Genting operated accounts with balances running into billions of naira, including a peak balance of about N34 billion.
The witness said investigations uncovered financial links between Genting and firms including YENGJIEPENG, BT8 Housing Nigeria Ltd. and BNN Construction Ltd.
She added that some inflows were traced to bureau de change operators and routinely converted into cryptocurrency, particularly USDT, through digital wallets.
“One such wallet received about N97 million, which was later transferred into Genting’s bank account,” Chindaya told the court.
She said Audu was the sole signatory to Genting’s accounts and personally received about N74 million for office furnishing, fuel and other expenses.
“There is another gaming company, Anhongs, linked to Audu, where he was also the sole signatory,” the witness said.
Chindaya said 792 suspects were arrested, including 193 foreigners comprising 145 Chinese nationals, about 40 Filipinos and a Tunisian.
She added that the remaining suspects were Nigerians recruited through social media to defraud victims.
“The recruits were trained with prepared scripts to deceive victims on dating platforms before blocking them after payments,” she said.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until Feb. 24 for continuation of trial. NAN