The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man identified as Igoin Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged N25 million fraud involving impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.
Peter was arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge after allegedly posing as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation.
The anti-graft agency disclosed the development in a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday.
According to the EFCC, the defendant falsely presented himself as a presidential aide and allegedly used the claim to obtain funds from companies under the pretext of securing cryptocurrency exchange operational licences.
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 alleged that Peter claimed he was the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the money would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.
Another count accused him of obtaining N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited between September 5, 2024, and October 10, 2025, under the same alleged false representation.
According to the commission, the offences contravene 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 the plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
Justice Egwuatu 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 be a property owner who must provide property documents, means of identification and a passport photograph.
The second surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15 and above and must also provide office identification and a passport photograph.
The judge further ordered that the defendant be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned until July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.
