The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a Chinese national, Liu Beixiang (also known as Lao Liu), before Justice Ayokule Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to a statement from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Beixiang is standing trial on a one-count charge of providing false information to a Federal Government officer in the course of official duties.
The charge reads: “That you, LIU BEIXIANG (A.K.A LAO LIU), sometime in December, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did give information, which you knew to be false, to an officer of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the discharge of his duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”
Upon the reading of the charge, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Because of his plea, prosecution counsel, Babatunde Sonoiki, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Facility.
Responding, defence counsel, F.A. Dalmeda, informed the court of an application submitted to the EFCC seeking a plea bargain.
“We filed an application for a plea bargain and we have also filed a motion for bail, which the EFCC responded to this morning. We need a date for us to report on the plea bargain,” Dalmeda said.
Consequently, Justice Faji adjourned the case to June 23, 2025, for a report on the plea bargain and remanded the defendant in a correctional center.
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