The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a 19-year-old woman, Marian Elia, and her 21-year-old boyfriend, Izuchukwu Uzoma, over the alleged theft of ₦35.92 million from a woman in Benin City, Edo State.
The EFCC alleged that Ms Elia, who grew up in the home of the victim, Esther Ogbeifun, used her access to the woman’s phones and banking details to transfer the money from her Moniepoint account into an account operated by Mr Uzoma at United Bank for Africa.
According to the commission, the alleged transactions occurred between March 8 and July 29, 2026, and the defendants converted the funds to their personal use.
One charge accuses Ms Elia of using Ms Ogbeifun’s Moniepoint personal banking application to transfer a total of N35.92 million into an account domiciled with United Bank for Africa and operated by Mr Uzoma.
The charge stated that the alleged transaction caused financial loss to Ms Ogbeifun and violated Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
They were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Benin on seven counts of conspiracy, cybercrime and stealing.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice C. A. Obiozor ordered that they be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to December 7 for hearing.
