Chinese National Arraigned for Allegedly Misleading EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a Chinese national, Liu Beixiang, popularly known as Lao Liu, before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos, over allegations of deliberately providing false information to a government official.
Liu is facing a one-count charge for allegedly giving misleading information to an EFCC officer during the course of official duties in December 2024, in Lagos. According to the charge, the act contravenes Section 16 (1) of the EFCC Act, 2004, which prescribes punishment for providing false information to the commission.
Upon arraignment, Liu pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Babatunde Sonoiki, requested the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of the proceedings.
However, Liu’s legal representative, F.A. Dalmeda, informed the court that a plea bargain application had already been submitted to the EFCC. He further stated that a motion for bail had also been filed, and the EFCC had responded to the motion earlier that same day.
Dalmeda urged the court to fix a date for reporting progress on the plea bargain discussions. In response, Justice Faji adjourned the matter to June 23, 2025, for a report on the plea bargain and directed that Liu be remanded in a correctional centre until then.
