The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, over the alleged theft of N35.92 million. The case is before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Benin.
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Elia, 19, and Uzoma, 21, face a seven-count charge covering cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing. The EFCC alleges that they conspired to steal the money from a woman identified as Mrs Esther Ogbeifun.
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How the money allegedly moved
According to the Commission’s investigation, Elia grew up in the victim’s house and so had access to her phones and banking details. The EFCC alleges that she used that access to transfer the sum from Mrs Ogbeifun’s account into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend. Both are then said to have spent the money on themselves.
One of the counts accuses Elia of using the victim’s Moniepoint personal banking app between March 8 and July 29, 2026, in Benin, Edo State, to move an aggregate of N35,920,000 into a United Bank for Africa account operated by Uzoma. The charge says the transfers caused a loss to Mrs Ogbeifun and breach Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
Not-guilty pleas and remand
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read. Prosecution counsel I. M. Elodi asked the court to fix a trial date and to remand them in a correctional centre.
Justice Obiozor ordered that they be held at the Benin Correctional Centre in Benin City and adjourned the case until December 7 for hearing.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and both defendants are presumed innocent until a verdict.
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