Ayuba Sanusi
THE Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today Monday, 17 March 2025 arraigned Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of a Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri.
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 Six Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Three Hundred Naira (N6,815,300.00) only.
Count one reads: “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 Six Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, Three Hundred Naira (N6,710,300.00) 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.”
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 facility
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till 8 April 2025 for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in a correctional facility.
Ugwu’s journey to a correctional facility 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 could neither account for nor return the money she collected.
Eighteen-Eleven Media