The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, before the Federal High Court in Benin for alleged theft of N35.9 million.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice C. A. Obiozor on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing, EFCC said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the commission, Ms Elia, 19, and Mr Uzoma, 21, conspired and stole N35,920,000 belonging to Esther Ogbeifun.
Investigation by the EFCC revealed that Ms Elia, who grew up in the house of the victim, had access to her phone and bank details and allegedly transferred the said sum from the victim’s account to that of Mr Uzoma, her boyfriend.
Both were said to have converted the money to personal use.
One of the charges reads: “That you Marian Elia between the 8th day of March 2026 and 29th day of July 2026 in Benin, Edo State within 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 Naira) 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 guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, asked the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre.
Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Benin Correctional Centre, Benin City, and adjourned the matter till 7 December for hearing.
