• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Hao was brought before the court on a one-count charge bordering on cheating, according to the anti-graft agency. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Directorate, has arraigned a Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, before Justice Ibrahim Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court in Mararaba over an alleged case of cheating. Hao was brought before the court on a one-count charge bordering on cheating, according to the anti-graft agency. During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented the charge against the defendant, detailing the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence. The charge reads: "That you, Zhang Wen Hao sometime in March 2023 at Suleja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did intentionally induce Paul Yichol with One Thousand Naira only to open account number 1715754475 in his name with Access Bank PLC for the purpose of using same for unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law." According to the EFCC, the alleged act took place in March 2023 in Suleja, where the defendant was said to have persuaded one Paul Yichol with the sum of one thousand naira to open a bank account in his name with Access Bank PLC. The account, investigators alleged, was intended to be used for unlawful activities. When the charge was read to him in court, Hao pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Taiwo Aromolaran, requested the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial so that the prosecution could present its case and call witnesses. Counsel for the defendant, Michael Ukatu, however, made an oral application for bail on behalf of his client, urging the court to grant him bail pending the determination of the case. Justice Shekarau did not immediately rule on the bail request but adjourned the matter to allow the court to hear arguments relating to the application. The judge subsequently adjourned the case until March 12, 2026 for the hearing of the bail application. Pending the determination of the bail request, Justice Shekarau ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC has in recent years intensified efforts to prosecute cases involving financial crimes, including fraud, cybercrime and other offences linked to the misuse of bank accounts for illicit financial activities. The commission continues to pursue cases across various courts in the country as part of its mandate to combat corruption and economic crimes. Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years' imprisonment each for cyber terrorism and internet fraud. The duo were among a syndicate of 792 suspected fraudsters arrested by EFCC operatives during a surprise operation tagged "Eagle Flush Operation" in Lagos on December 19, 2024. The massive crackdown targeted a network allegedly involved in cryptocurrency scams, investment fraud and romance scams. Also arraigned alongside the two Chinese nationals was one Friday Audu. While Haoyu and Hongxu changed their pleas to guilty, Audu maintained his plea of not guilty. According to investigations, Audu allegedly incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. on the directive of Huang Haoyu to facilitate the fraudulent scheme. Source: https://saharareporters.com/2026/03/06/chinese-man-arraigned-efcc-allegedly-using-nigerians-bank-account-fraud-nasarawa