The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, over an alleged N6.8 million romance scam.
Ugwu was docked on Monday, March 17, 2025, on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, and impersonation. According to the EFCC, Ugwu defrauded one Emmanuel Ani by posing as his fiancée, “Miss Chinansa,” and collected funds from him under false pretences.
The EFCC detailed one of the charges: “That you, Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu, between June 2023 and August 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N6,710,300 from Emmanuel Ani into your bank account, under the pretence that it was meant for the upkeep of his purported fiancée, Miss Chinansa, which you knew to be false.”
Ugwu pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecution counsel S.O. Saka and Faruku Muhammad requested that the court fix a trial date and remand the defendant. Justice Kumaliya granted the request, adjourning the matter until April 8, 2025, for the commencement of the trial. Ugwu was remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
According to the EFCC, Ugwu was unable to account for the funds when confronted by the petitioner. The Commission stated, “Her journey to the correctional centre began when she obtained N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner.”
The case highlights the EFCC’s commitment to tackling financial crimes and protecting citizens from online fraud and romance scams.