Tunde Bakare
The second prosecution witness, PW2, Alhassan Garba, a Bureau De Change operator in the ongoing trial of one Huang Haoyu, a Chinese and others, has told Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, that he had several crypto transactions with Haoyu between September and November 2024, with values ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 almost daily.
Huang Haoyu is standing trial alongside Friday Audu, An Hongxu and Genting International Co. Ltd. on an 11-count charge bordering on cyber-terrorism, internet fraud and money laundering to the tune of N3,407,824,740.78 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira, Seventy Eight kobo), and $2,562,203( Two Million Five Hundred and Sixty Two, Thousand, Two Hundred and Three United States Dollars) brought against them by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
They are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024 in Lagos during a sting operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” conducted by EFCC operatives.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Garba, a Bureau de Change(BDC) operator, told the court that he often changed money for Haoyu, also known as Mr Ken.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Garba, who operates Hugovice Ltd., revealed that he had known Haoyu for over 10 years and that they had done business together.
“He would often exchange money with me. I also know the second defendant, Mr. Friday, we met sometime last year,” he told the court.
In his further testimony, Garba stated that Haoyu approached him last year with a proposal to exchange United States Dollars (a cryptocurrency) into Naira, adding that “I agreed and was provided with Genting International Company Ltd’s account details. I would then pay the Naira equivalent of the USDT sent to me into the account.
“I didn’t have a crypto wallet, so I contacted Ifesinachi Jonathan, who supplied me with the USDT wallet. The wallet address is a combination of numbers.
“Between September and November 2024, we had crypto transactions almost everyday, with values ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 .
“On September 26 and 27, 2025, the total sum of N28.9m was sent to the account of Genting International Ltd, amongst others”.
Garba also confirmed that these transactions were part of the USDT to Naira conversions he did for Haoyu.
When asked by Oyedepo if he had any conversation with the defendant upon his invitation by the EFCC, he said: “When I was invited by the EFCC for investigation, I was in touch with Mr. Friday Audu, who said he had also been invited.
“Mr. Friday asked me about my invitation date and I told him. He now mentioned that he would extend his own invitation. I told him that I wasn’t aware of any extension and would attend to see what the EFCC needed.”
He also identified Jonathan as the person who supplied the USDT wallet and also made transactions from his personal account to Genting International Ltd.
When questioned about other transactions into the Genting account, Garba mentioned a transaction to the tune of N16 million on September 4, 2024, but claimed he knew nothing about it.
Garba, thereafter, confirmed Sanni Muddathir as his business partner who also sent money to Genting International Ltd.
The prosecution sought to tender Garba’s statement in evidence dated January 6, 14, 20, 23, 29, February 11, March 14, and April 4.
They were admitted in evidence and marked exhibits.
Justice Osiagor adjourned the matter till Friday, July 4, 2025 for further hearing.