EFCC arraigns fake presidential aide over N25m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against Igoin Peter, who allegedly impersonated a presidential aide to defraud companies. Peter appeared before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing four counts related to impersonation and obtaining money under false pretenses.

The EFCC alleges that Peter used his false claim of being a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation to solicit funds for a non-existent cryptocurrency exchange license. Specifically, he is accused of obtaining N25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited and N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited between August 2024 and October 2025. These funds were reportedly channeled through the Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account at Zenith Bank.

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That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 30th August, 2024 and 30th October, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N25,941,787.00 (Twenty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Forty One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account No 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Dontown Assets Limited under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Peter pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution requested his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial. However, Justice Egwuatu granted him bail set at N400 million, requiring two sureties in the same amount. The court is expected to set a trial date.

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That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 5th September 2024 and 10 October 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N19,806,500.00 (Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred and Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account No. 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Jeriod Limited, under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.