EFCC arraigns lovers over N35.9m theft in Edo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally charged two lovers, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, with the theft of N35.92 million belonging to a woman named Esther Ogbeifun in Benin, Edo State. The EFCC announced the arraignment in a statement on its official X account on a Wednesday.

The defendants appeared before Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Benin City, where they faced a seven-count charge that included cybercrime, conspiracy, and theft. The EFCC alleged that Elia, who had lived in the victim’s house, had access to her phones and banking information, which she used to transfer the money to Uzoma’s account.

According to the statement, the investigation revealed that Elia, while growing up in the victim's home, had her phone and bank details, and allegedly transferred N35.92 million from the victim's account to Uzoma's account. One of the charges alleged that Elia used the victim's Moniepoint Personal Banking App with account number 6513141114 to execute the transfer.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them in court. During the arraignment, their counsel, I.M. Elodi, requested the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional center. Justice Obiozor ordered their remand at the Benin Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until December 7 for further hearing.