The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a 19-year-old woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend over the alleged theft of ₦35.92 million from a woman in Benin, Edo State.
The commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate brought Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to steal ₦35,920,000 belonging to Esther Ogbeifun, with Elia allegedly transferring the money from the victim’s account into an account operated by Uzoma.
Investigations by the commission revealed that Elia grew up in Ogbeifun’s household and had access to her phones and banking information. She allegedly exploited that access to transfer the funds into her boyfriend’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) account, after which both defendants allegedly converted the money to their personal use.
One of the charges alleged that Elia used a Moniepoint Personal Banking application linked to Ogbeifun’s account to transfer the money to Uzoma’s UBA account between March 8 and July 29, 2026.
The commission said the alleged transaction resulted in financial losses for Ogbeifun. It cited Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, in the charge against Elia. However, both defendants pleaded not guilty when the court read the charges to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
Justice Obiozor ordered that Elia and Uzoma be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre in Benin City. While the court subsequently adjourned the case until December 7 for hearing.
While proceedings continue, the court has yet to determine the defendants’ guilt.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
