A Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, has been arraigned by the EFCC before a Nasarawa State High Court for allegedly paying a local resident N1,000 to open a bank account intended for “unlawful activities.”
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially arraigned a Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, before Justice Ibrahim Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court in Mararaba. Hao faces a one-count charge bordering on cheating, following allegations that he manipulated a local resident into facilitating a potentially fraudulent financial setup. During the proceedings on Friday, March 6, 2026, the prosecution detailed how the defendant allegedly exploited a Nigerian citizen to gain access to the banking system for non-legitimate purposes.
According to the charge sheet presented by the anti-graft agency, the offence took place in March 2023 in the Suleja area. Investigators claim that Hao persuaded one Paul Yichol to open an account with Access Bank PLC using Yichol’s identity, providing him with a mere N1,000 as an inducement. The EFCC alleges that the account, numbered 1715754475, was specifically intended to serve as a conduit for “unlawful activity,” a violation of the Penal Code Law applicable in Northern Nigeria. The charge stated: “That you, Zhang Wen Hao sometime in March 2023 at Suleja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did intentionally induce Paul Yichol with One Thousand Naira only to open account number 1715754475 in his name with Access Bank PLC for the purpose of using same for unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.”
Zhang Wen Hao pleaded not guilty to the charge upon its reading. Following the plea, the defense counsel, Michael Ukatu, made an oral application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Taiwo Aromolaran, who requested a date for the commencement of the trial. Justice Shekarau subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending a formal hearing on the bail application. The matter has been adjourned to March 12, 2026, as the commission continues its crackdown on foreign nationals involved in domestic financial crimes.
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