A startling revelation has emerged from the trial of a cybercrime syndicate in Lagos, as a witness detailed his recruitment and experiences at Genting International Ltd, a company currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The case involves 193 foreign nationals, six of whom have opted for a plea bargain, and 599 Nigerians arrested in a surprise raid at the Big Leaf Building in Lagos. While some suspects await trial, one defendant, Xiao Hong Will, is facing a three-count charge alongside the company.
During court proceedings, Roland Turaki, an unemployed cybersecurity student, testified against the company, revealing how he was recruited through a job advertisement. Turaki recounted seeing an ad for a customer service role offering a monthly salary of ₦250,000. After responding to the ad on an online marketplace, he was directed to a WhatsApp group, where he received instructions to attend an interview.
“The interview process was unusual,” Turaki said. “There were no technical questions—just a typing test. If you could type at least 30 words per minute, you were hired on the spot.” He added that he was expected to start the following day, a process he found suspicious but did not question at the time.
Upon joining the company, Turaki was handed a script and underwent three days of training on how to communicate with foreign clients, following strict templates designed to manipulate victims into trust. “Our job was to chat with European men while pretending to be women, using a structured chat format,” he explained. “We were assigned models who would provide pictures and do video calls when necessary to make the deception seem real.”
As part of the company’s operations, employees faced pressure to meet targets or risk dismissal without pay. Turaki described the work environment as highly controlled, with threats and strict monitoring by Chinese supervisors. He attempted to resign after realizing the fraudulent nature of the operation but was informed that he must give 15 days’ notice or forfeit his salary.
Security at the company’s premises was tight, with armed guards ensuring that workers remained inside. “Even when I tried to step outside to buy medicine, security personnel forced me back in,” Turaki recalled. His plan to leave was abruptly halted when EFCC operatives raided the premises on December 10, just three weeks after he had joined.
The EFCC has indicated its intention to present Turaki’s work desktop as evidence, along with the scripted formats he was trained to use. The trial has been adjourned to March 18 for further proceedings.
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