The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two brothers, Ajim Kerison Onubuogu and Ajim Tochukwu Christian, for allegedly defrauding an American victim, Chebet Chumba, of $43,850 and ₦18.6 million.
The duo appeared before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu on November 28, 2024, facing a four-count charge of criminal impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, money laundering, and possession of proceeds of crime.
One of the charges alleges that between April and July 2023, Onubuogu impersonated a U.S.-based individual, Chris M. Akaa, via a fake Facebook account, sending deceptive love messages to Chumba to obtain $43,850.
Another charge accuses Christian of receiving and laundering ₦18,675,133.75 between March 2023 and May 2024 through an Opay Digital Service account. Both actions are offenses under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act 2015 and Money Laundering Act 2022.
The brothers pleaded not guilty. EFCC counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, requested a trial date and the defendants’ remand in custody. Justice Umar adjourned the case to January 21, 2025, for the hearing of bail applications and ordered their detention at the Enugu Correctional Facility.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed the brothers specialized in romance scams, operating multiple fake social media accounts and using fraudulent documents.
