By our Reporter
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man identified as Igoin Tokoni Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged N25 million fraud involving impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
Peter was arraigned on Friday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on alleged impersonation and fraud.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly paraded himself as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation to defraud unsuspecting victims.
One of the charges stated that between August 30, 2024 and October 30, 2025, the defendant allegedly obtained N25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited through the account of Smartz Skyward Energy Limited under the false claim that he would secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.
The anti-graft agency said the defendant allegedly claimed to be attached to the Presidency and represented that the money would be used to facilitate official approvals.
Another charge alleged that Peter fraudulently obtained N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited under similar pretences between September 5, 2024 and October 10, 2025.
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a property owner resident in Abuja and required the submission of property documents, identification and passport photographs.
The second surety, according to the ruling, must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15 who would also provide official identification and passport photographs.
The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned until July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.
