EFCC Arraigns Siblings for Alleged Fraud of $43,850 and N18.6 Million in Enugu

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned two siblings, Ajim Kerison Onubuogu and Ajim Tochukwu Christian, for allegedly defrauding an American victim, Chebet Chumba, of a total sum of Forty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($43,850) and Eighteen Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira, Seventy-Five Kobo (N18,675,133.75).

The brothers were brought before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu, facing a four-count charge that includes criminal impersonation, obtaining by false pretenses, money laundering, and possession of proceeds from a crime.

In Count Two of the charge, it is alleged that between April and July 2023, Ajim Kerison Onubuogu fraudulently impersonated an individual named Chris M. Akaa, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Using a fake Facebook account, Onubuogu allegedly engaged in a romantic scam, sending deceptive love messages to Chebet Chumba to trick her into transferring $43,850. This act is said to contravene Section 22 (3)(a)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.

Count Four charges Ajim Tochukwu Christian with committing a felony between March 19, 2023, and May 9, 2024. It is alleged that Christian received N18,675,133.75, which was fraudulently obtained from Chebet Chumba, through an Opay Digital Service Ltd account, knowing the money was the proceeds of unlawful activity. This is said to be in violation of Section 18 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended), punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court. Following their plea, the EFCC’s counsel, Assistant Commander Michael Ikechukwu Ani, requested that the court set a trial date and remand the defendants at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the case until January 21, 2025, for a bail application hearing, and the siblings were remanded in custody.

The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by the American victim, who reported that she had been scammed by the accused. Investigations revealed that the defendants were involved in online “love scams,” using fake social media profiles to deceive victims. Fraudulent documents were also recovered from the suspects during the investigation.