The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 17, 2025 arraigned one Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court Maiduguri for N6.8m romance scam.
EFCC said Ugwu duped one Emmanuel Ani of the sum of N6.8m ‘by impersonating and pretending to be his fiancée.’
The defendant was arraigned on a four -count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and cheating by impersonation to the tune of N6, 815,300.00 (Six Million Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Naira only).punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related Offences Act, 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
Counsel to the prosecution S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she obtained the sum of N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner.
When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for nor return the money she collected.
EFCC said Ugwu duped one Emmanuel Ani of the sum of N6.8m ‘by impersonating and pretending to be his fiancée.’
The defendant was arraigned on a four -count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and cheating by impersonation to the tune of N6, 815,300.00 (Six Million Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Naira only).punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related Offences Act, 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
Counsel to the prosecution S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she obtained the sum of N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner.
When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for nor return the money she collected.