Fake Presidential Aide Arraigned Over N25m Scam

ValidViewNetwork reports that the corridors of power in Abuja are often a magnet for influence-peddlers, but some take the deception to staggering heights. In a shocking twist of audacity and high-stakes deception, a man who successfully passed himself off as an elite Aso Rock digital czar has finally run out of luck, finding himself trading the luxury of a presidential title for the stark reality of a criminal trial.

​The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 15, 2026, officially arraigned one Igoin Tokoni Peter before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Peter, who allegedly manufactured an elite persona as a Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, stands accused of executing a N25 million fraud scheme. The anti-graft agency slammed the defendant with a four-count charge heavily bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretenses.

​ValidViewNetwork reports that the elaborate facade began crumbling as the specific details of the charges were laid bare in court. The prosecution outlined how the defendant systematically exploited unsuspecting corporate entities by promising them highly coveted regulatory paperwork.

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​Highlighting the mechanics of the alleged scam, count one of the charges read:

​“That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 30th August, 2024 and 30th October, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N25,941,787.00 (Twenty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Forty One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account No 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Dontown Assets Limited under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”

​The scale of the deception widened significantly with the reading of the subsequent accusations. Demonstrating an allegedly patterned operation targeting tech-adjacent businesses, count two of the charge sheet stated:

​“That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 5th September 2024 and 10 October 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N19,806,500.00 (Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred and Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira ) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited`s account No. 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Jeriod Limited, under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(10 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”

​The defendant, however, maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against him. This swift denial prompted the EFCC prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, to promptly request a definitive trial date while fiercely advocating for the defendant to be kept in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the conclusion of the case, ValidViewNetwork reports.

​Delivering his ruling on the matter, Justice Egwuatu granted the defendant a stringent bail set at N400 million, requiring two sureties in the exact same sum. The court mandated that both sureties must reside within the federal capital. Furthermore, the first surety must be an Abuja property owner required to surrender their property documents, a passport photograph, and a valid means of identification, while the second must be a civil servant not below grade level 15, who is also obligated to submit their official identity card and passport photograph.

​Unable to instantly meet these hefty conditions, the defendant was ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the matter to July 16, 2026, for the official commencement of the trial, ValidViewNetwork reports.

​This alarming case serves as a grim reminder that the booming digital economy remains a fertile playground for sophisticated impostors looking to cash in on regulatory anxieties. As the legal battle gears up for July, it highlights the critical need for corporate due diligence; in an era where access is everything, verifying the credentials of anyone claiming to speak for the presidency is no longer just a formality—it is a vital shield against financial ruin.