The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, March 17, 2025 arraigned one Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri over allegation of 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, 815,300.00.
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 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.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges 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.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till April 8, 2025 for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she allegedly obtained the sum of N6.8million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner.
When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for, or return the money she collected.
(Leadership)
