EFCC arraigns 2 over alleged N8.9m fraud
By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 2 suspects before the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, over an alleged N8.9 million investment fraud.
The defendants, Samuel Inalegwu Okpala and Ezelibe Emmanuel Nzube, were withheld before Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman on a 4 count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent personation, and obtaining by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, Okpala allegedly defrauded a victim, Clara Uwakonye, of N5.5 million in 2025 in Onitsha under the pretext of offering high returns on investment, a claim prosecutors said he knew to be false.
Nzube, on the other hand, was accused of impersonating another individual via a fake Facebook account using a mobile device to deceive unsuspecting victims, in violation of provisions of the Cybercrime Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Somtochukwu C. Anyanwu, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to April 29, 2026, for the hearing of bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Awka.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the suspects allegedly operated a fake investment scheme, luring victims with promises of returns before becoming unreachable after receiving funds.
Authorities said the case is part of ongoing efforts to tackle cybercrime and financial fraud in the country.