The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Catherine Ugwu before a Borno state high court in Maiduguri over alleged romance scam.
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.
According to the EFCC, Ugwu obtained the sum of the money 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.
Count one of the charge 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 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.”
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The defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts when they were read to her.
Counsels 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.
Aisha Kumaliya, the presiding judge, ordered the defendant’s remand in a correctional centre and thereafter adjourned the matter till April 8, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
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