Justice Aliyu Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, ordered the remand of four Chinese and one Nigerian in Correctional facilities for alleged hotel review scam.
The suspects Liu Zhiwei, Chen Ye Qui, Zhang Xiao Wen, Lan Shun Bin and Nwakama Chiyenre Ogbonna, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cheating and impersonation.
They were among the 105 suspects arrested by the operatives of the EFCC on January 9, 2025, in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja, for their alleged involvement in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.
Count one reads: “That you, LIU ZHIWEI, CHEN YE QUI, ZHANG XIAO WEN, LAN SHUN BIN and NWAKAMA CHINYERE OGBONNA (a.k.a Haron Koshear), sometime in December, 2024 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did agree among yourself to do illegal act to; cheating when you used the fictitious picture of Haron Koshear and sent chats to unsuspecting members of the public via Telegram Account to promote the services or ratings of Hotels in London as five star Hotels in return for payment of $5 (Five United States Dollars), when you knew that the said hotels are not five-star hotels and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 (1) (a) of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 97 (1)(2) of the same Act.”
Count two reads: “That you, NWAKAMA CHINYERE OGBONNA (a.k.a Haron Koshear) sometime in December, 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as Haron Koshear, a Customer Service Representative with Venus Spark Impact Media, Na’aka Hub Plaza Gudu, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory and in that assumed character aided the management of Venus Spark Impact Media, Na’aka Hub Plaza, Gudu, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory to promote the services of rating of Nox Edgware Road as five-star hotel in return for payment of $5 (Five United States Dollars), when you knew that the said hotel is not five- star hotel and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 324 of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, the Prosecution Counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, prayed the Court to fix a date for commencement of trial and remand the defendants in a Correctional Centre.
However, the Defense Counsel, Yahaya Dangana (SAN), informed the Court of the application for bail of his clients.
After listening to both Counsels, Justice Halilu ordered that Liu Zhiwei, Chen ye qui, Zhang Xiao Wen, Lan Shun Bin be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center while Nwakama Chinyere Ogbonna be remanded in Suleja Correctional Center.
He adjourned the matter till March 27, 2025, for hearing of bail applications.
