The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia, 19, and Izuchukwu Uzoma, 21, over the alleged theft of N35.92 million belonging to Esther Ogbeifun in Benin City, Edo State.
The commission disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday, stating that its Benin Zonal Directorate brought the defendants before Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court.
According to the EFCC, the defendants face a seven-count charge “bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing”.
The commission alleged that Elia, who grew up in Ogbeifun’s home, had access to the woman’s phones and banking information, which she allegedly used to transfer the money 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 statement read.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants converted the funds to their personal use.
One of the charges accused Elia of using Ogbeifun’s banking application to transfer the money into an account operated by Uzoma.
The statement read in part, “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).”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, asked the court to schedule a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre in Benin City and adjourned the case until December 7 for hearing.