The defendants were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that the duo conspired to steal N35.92 million belonging to Mrs Esther Ogbeifun.
Investigations by the Commission reportedly revealed that Elia, who grew up in the victim’s home, had access to her phones and banking information. She allegedly used this access to transfer the money from the victim’s account into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend. The defendants allegedly converted the funds to their personal use.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Marian Elia, between the 8th day of March 2026 and the 29th day of July 2026, in Benin, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use the access device issued to one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, to wit, a Moniepoint Personal Banking App with account number 6513141114, to transfer the aggregate sum of N35,920,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) to account number 2318786590 domiciled in United Bank for Africa, operated by one Izuchukwu Uzoma, resulting in a loss to the said Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Justice Obiozor subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre in Benin City and adjourned the case until December 7, 2026, for hearing.
