19-Year-Old Woman and Boyfriend in Court for Alleged N35.9m Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged a 19-year-old woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend for allegedly stealing N35.92 million from a woman in Benin City, Edo State.

The accused, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, appeared before the Federal High Court in Benin. They face seven counts of conspiracy, cybercrime, and theft, according to a Facebook post by the EFCC on Wednesday.

The EFCC claims that Ms Elia, who lived with the victim, Esther Ogbeifun, took advantage of her access to the woman’s phones and banking details. She reportedly transferred the money into Mr Uzoma’s bank account.

The commission stated that the defendants allegedly used the money for their personal needs.

The transfers are said to have taken place between 8 March and 29 July 2026.

One of the charges says that Ms Elia used Ms Ogbeifun’s Moniepoint personal banking app to move N35.92 million into an account at United Bank for Africa that Mr Uzoma operated.

This action reportedly caused financial loss to Ms Ogbeifun and broke Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.

When the charges were read out, both defendants pleaded not guilty.

After they entered their pleas, prosecution lawyer I.M. Elodi requested the court to set a trial date and keep the defendants in custody.

Justice C. A. Obiozor ordered that the defendants be held at the Benin Correctional Centre and postponed the case to 7 December for hearing.