The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a 19-year-old woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend before the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, over the alleged theft of ₦35.92 million from a woman who raised the younger defendant.

The defendants, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing before Justice C.A. Obiozor, according to an EFCC statement published on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

The commission alleged that Elia, who grew up in the home of the complainant, Mrs Esther Ogbeifun, used her access to the woman’s phones and banking information to transfer the money into an account operated by Uzoma at United Bank for Africa (UBA).

According to the EFCC, the alleged transactions occurred between March 8 and July 29, 2026, through Ogbeifun’s Moniepoint personal banking application.

One of the charges alleged that Elia transferred an aggregate sum of ₦35,920,000 into Uzoma’s account, resulting in financial loss to Ogbeifun.

The commission further alleged that the defendants converted the money to their personal use.

The EFCC said the alleged offence contravened Section 33(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.

When the charges were read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in custody.

Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until December 7, 2026, for hearing.

The allegations have yet to be proved in court, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted by a competent court.