BENIN CITY — Two young lovers, 19-year-old Marian Elia and 21-year-old Izuchukwu Uzoma, have been arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, over an alleged cyber-enabled heist totaling N35,920,000.
The defendants were docked on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and stealing before Justice C.A. Obiozor by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to court filings, the dramatic fraud came to light following a petition regarding the systematic draining of funds belonging to one Mrs. Esther Ogbeifun. Investigators revealed that Elia, who grew up under the care of the victim, capitalized on her close access to the household to compromise Mrs. Ogbeifun’s personal devices and banking details.
Court documents highlight a specific charge detailing how Elia allegedly manipulated the victim’s Moniepoint Personal Banking application between March 8 and July 29, 2026. Using the unauthorized access device, she executed a series of electronic transfers funneling an aggregate sum of N35.92 million into a United Bank for Africa (UBA) account operated by her boyfriend, Uzoma. The anti-graft agency stated that the couple subsequently frittered away the funds on personal ventures.
When the seven-count charge was read to them in court, both defendants entered a plea of “not guilty.”
Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, prayed the court for a trial date and requested that the defendants be remanded in custody.
Justice Obiozor ordered that Elia and Uzoma be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre and subsequently adjourned the matter to December 7 for the commencement of the hearing.
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