EFCC arraigns lovers for alleged N35m theft in Edo

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has actually arraigned Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, both of whom are enthusiasts, before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court for taking to the tune of N35,920,000.00( Thirty-five Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira).

They were arraigned on a seven-count charge, verging on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing.

Elia, 19 and Uzoma, 21 are declared to have actually conspired and taken N35.920 million coming from one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun.

Examination by the Commission exposed that Elia, who matured in your home of the victim, had access to her phones and bank info and supposedly carried out a transfer of the stated amount from the victim’s account into that of Uzoma, her sweetheart. And both transformed the cash to their individual usage.

Among the charge checks out: “That you Marian Elia in 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 utilize the gain access to gadget provided to one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun to wit, a Moniepoint Personal Banking App with account number 6513141114 to move the aggregate amount of N35,920,000.00 (Thirty Five million, Nine hundred and Twenty Thousand) to account number 2318786590 domiciled in United Bank for Africa, run by one Izuchukwu Uzoma, leading to a loss to the stated Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, thus dedicated an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 33( 2) (c) of the cybercrime (Prohibition, avoidance, and so on) Act 2015 (as modified 2024).

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they read to them, triggering the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi to ask the court to for a trial date and to remand the accuseds in a Correctional Centre.

Justice Obiozor remanded the offenders in Benin Correctional Centre, Benin City and adjourned the matter till December 7 for hearing.