Alleged N25m fraud: EFCC arraigns SA to president on ICT   

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 linked to impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.

Peter was arraigned on Friday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and fraud.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly posed as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation to defraud unsuspecting victims.

One of the charges alleged that between August 30, 2024, and October 30, 2025, the defendant fraudulently obtained N25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited through the account of Smartz Skyward Energy Limited domiciled with Zenith Bank.

The EFCC said Peter claimed the money would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence, while presenting himself as a presidential aide, a claim investigators said was false.

Another charge stated that between September 5, 2024, and October 10, 2025, the defendant allegedly obtained N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited under the same pretence.

The commission said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Peter 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 both sureties must reside in Abuja, with one required to own property and provide relevant documents, passport photographs and means of identification.

The second surety, according to the ruling, must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15 and must also submit official identification and passport photographs.

The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned until July 16, 2026,

for commencement of trial.