A woman, Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on charges of fraud amounting to N6.8 million.
She was brought before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri on Monday, March 17, 2025, over allegations of romance scam.
Ugwu faced a four-count charge, including obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, and cheating by impersonation. According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Emmanuel Ani by falsely claiming to be his fiancée, “Miss Chinansa.”
The EFCC, in a statement posted on their official X handle, detailed the core charge. “That you Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu between the period of June, 2023 to August, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N6, 710,300.00 (Six Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Three Hundred Naira) from Emmanuel Ani into your bank account: 1778806195 domiciled with Access Bank plc. under the pretence that same is meant for the upkeep of his purported fiancee, one Miss Chinansa, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006.”
Upon the charges being read to her, Ugwu pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad requested the court to set a trial date and remand Ugwu to a correctional centre. Justice Kumaliya granted their request, adjourning the case until April 8, 2025, for the commencement of the trial. Ugwu was subsequently remanded in a correctional centre.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Ugwu allegedly obtained N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be Ani’s fiancée. When confronted by the petitioner, Ugwu was unable to account for or return the money she had collected.
The EFCC statement added, “Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she obtained the sum of N6.8million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner. When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for or return the money she collected.”
The case underscores the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens from fraudulent activities, especially those involving online deception.
