‘Love Turns Sour,’ EFCC Arraigns Lovers Over N35.9m Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia, 19, and Izuchukwu Uzoma, 21, for allegedly stealing N35.92 million belonging to at least one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun in Benin, Edo State.

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

According to the fee, the defendants have been arraigned on a seven-count cost “bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing”.

The EFCC alleged that Elia, who grew up within the sufferer’s home, had entry to her telephones and banking data, which she allegedly used to switch the cash 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 assertion learn.

The fee additional alleged that the defendants transformed the cash to their private use.

Ebola: ‘For 21 Days,’ Nigeria Orders 46 Contacts Of Infected Woman Placed On No-Fly List

NNPC, NLNG Listing Loading; Nigeria Mulls $1Trillion Capital Market Cap, Outlines Steps For Key Assets’ IPO

Amnesty Int’l Kicks As 23 Year-Old Female Radio Journalist Jailed in Nigeria Over Facebook Post

One of the fees accused Elia of utilizing the sufferer’s banking utility to switch the cash to an account operated by Uzoma.

The assertion learn partially, “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 responsible to the fees after they have been learn to them.

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

Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded on the Benin Correctional Centre, Benin City, and adjourned the matter till December 7 for listening to.

NOP NIGERIA