EFCC arraigns lovers over N35.9m theft in Edo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia, 19, and Izuchukwu Uzoma, 21, over the alleged theft of N35.92m belonging to one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun in Benin, Edo State.

The EFCC disclosed this in a Wednesday statement posted on its official X account, saying its Benin Zonal Directorate arraigned the defendants before Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court.

According to the commission, the defendants were arraigned on a seven-count charge “bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing”.

The EFCC alleged that Elia, who grew up in the victim’s house, had access to her phones and banking information, which she allegedly used to transfer the money into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend.

“Investigation by the Commission revealed that Elia, who grew up in the house of the victim, had access to her phones and bank information and allegedly executed a transfer of the said sum from the victim’s account into that of Uzoma, her boyfriend,” the statement read.

The commission further alleged that the defendants converted the money to their personal use.

One of the charges accused Elia of using the victim’s banking application to transfer the money to an account operated by Uzoma.

The statement read in part, “That you Marian Elia between the 8th day of March 2026 and 29th day of July 2026 in Benin, Edo State with the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use the access device issued to one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun to wit, a Moniepoint Personal Banking App with account number 6513141114 to transfer the aggregate sum of N35,920,000.00 (Thirty Five million, Nine hundred and Twenty Thousand) to account number 2318786590 domiciled in United Bank for Africa, operated by one Izuchukwu Uzoma, resulting in a loss to the said Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(2) (c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 (as amended 2024).”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional centre.

Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre, Benin City, and adjourned the matter until December 7 for hearing.