Fake hotel ratings: EFCC arraigns four Chinese, one Nigerian

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four Chinese nationals and one Nigerian before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja over an alleged hotel review scam.

The defendants – Liu Zhiwei, Chen Ye Qui, Zhang Xiao Wen, Lan Shun Bin, and Nwakama Chinyere Ogbonna – appeared before Justice Aliyu Halilu on Tuesday.

They were charged with conspiracy, cheating, and impersonation.

According to the EFCC, the accused were involved in a scheme where they used a fictitious identity, “Haron Koshear,” to promote hotels in London as five-star establishments in exchange for $5 per review, even though the hotels did not meet the rating.

Nwakama Chinyere Ogbonna, who allegedly posed as “Haron Koshear,” was also accused of falsely representing himself as a customer service representative for Venus Spark Impact Media in Abuja.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, urged the court to set a date for trial and remand the suspects in custody.

However, defence counsel, Yahaya Dangana (SAN), applied for their bail.

After hearing both sides, Justice Halilu adjourned the case until March 27, 2025, for the bail hearing.

He ordered that Liu Zhiwei, Chen Ye Qui, Zhang Xiao Wen, and Lan Shun Bin be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, while Nwakama Chinyere Ogbonna was sent to Suleja Correctional Centre.

The suspects were among 105 people arrested by the EFCC on January 9, 2025, in a business apartment in the Gudu area of Abuja.

They were allegedly involved in an international hotel review scam targeting victims in Europe and other parts of the world.