The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, before the Nasarawa State High Court in Mararaba over an alleged attempt to induce a Nigerian to open a bank account for criminal purposes.
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Zhang was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on deception before Justice Ibrahim Shekarau.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the defendant allegedly induced one Paul Yichol with the sum of N1,000 to open a bank account with Access Bank Plc for unlawful activities.
The charge states that the defendant “intentionally induced Paul Yichol with one thousand naira only to open account number 1715754475 in his name with Access Bank Plc for the purpose of using the same for unlawful activity.”
The alleged offence was said to have occurred in March 2023 in Suleja, Niger State, near the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The EFCC said the act is contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.
When the charge was read to him in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Taiwo Aromolaran, requested the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial, while the defence counsel, Michael Ukatu, made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendant.
Justice Shekarau subsequently adjourned the matter until March 12, 2026 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of the bail request.
Under the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria, inducing another person for a fraudulent purpose constitutes an offence of deception or cheating. Section 320 of the law criminalises acts intended to dishonestly obtain property or facilitate illegal activity, while Section 322 prescribes a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The case adds to a growing number of prosecutions involving foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, over alleged financial crimes in Nigeria.
In recent years, several Chinese nationals have been prosecuted and convicted for offences including cybercrime, internet fraud and other financial crimes across various Nigerian courts. Authorities have also deported dozens of foreign nationals convicted of cyber fraud and related offences following EFCC investigations and prosecutions.
Experts have called on the Nigerian government to strengthen legal enforcement mechanisms and address regulatory gaps that may be exploited by foreign criminal networks operating within the country.
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