WOMAN IN COURT FOR CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION OVER N6.8M ROMANCE SCAM IN MAIDUGURI

Operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) have dragged one CATHERINE IJEOMA UGWU before the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri for alleged involvement in romance scam.

In the case before Justice Aisha Kumaliya, the EFCC slammed four counts of obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and cheating by impersonation to the tune of N6,815,300 (Six Million Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Naira).

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale disclosed in a statement that Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu allegedly committed the offence between the period of June 2023 and August 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The woman is alleged to have obtained the sum of N6,710,300.00 (Six Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Three Hundred Naira) from one Emmanuel Ani through her bank account under the pretext of safekeeping as the fiancée of the petitioner, identified as Miss Chinasa.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her in court, and Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till April 8, 2025, for trial.

Justice Kumaliya also ordered the remand of the suspect in a Correctional Centre of the request of the EFCC prosecution counsel.