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 who raised her, Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, in Benin, Edo State. The defendants pleaded not guilty and were remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre, with the case adjourned until December 7, 2026.
EFCC Arraigns Couple Over Alleged N35.92 Million Theft
The EFCC disclosed the arraignment in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The commission said its Benin Zonal Directorate brought the defendants before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court. They face a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy, and stealing.
According to the EFCC, Elia, who grew up in Ogbeifun's house, had access to her phones and banking information. She allegedly used this access to transfer the money from the victim's account into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend.
Details of the Alleged Fraudulent Transfers
One of the charges states that between March 8 and July 29, 2026, Elia used Ogbeifun's Moniepoint personal banking application to transfer a total of ₦35.92 million into a United Bank for Africa (UBA) account operated by Uzoma. This caused Ogbeifun a financial loss. The charge says the offence violates Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The commission further alleged that the defendants converted the money to their personal use. Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. Prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi, then asked the court to fix a trial date and remand them in a correctional centre.
Court Remands Defendants, Adjourns Case
Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre in Benin City and adjourned the case until December 7, 2026, for hearing.
The EFCC statement did not provide details on how the money was spent, whether any of it has been recovered, or what the other six counts are. The case is set to proceed with the defendants in custody.
