The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Igoin Tokoni Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged impersonation and fraud involving more than N25 million.
Peter was arraigned on Friday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly paraded himself as a Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on ICT Development and Digital Innovation to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The EFCC alleged that Peter fraudulently obtained N25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited through the account of Smartz Skyward Energy Limited domiciled with Zenith Bank, under the guise of securing a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.
One of the charges read that the defendant, between August 30, 2024 and October 30, 2025 in Abuja, obtained the money “with the intent to defraud” by falsely claiming to be a presidential aide on ICT Development and Digital Innovations.
The Commission also accused him of obtaining another N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited between September 5, 2024 and October 10, 2025 using the same alleged false representation.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Peter pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, prayed the court to fix a trial date and order the remand of the defendant at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ruled that both sureties must reside in Abuja, while one of them must be a property owner who would provide property documents, means of identification, and passport photographs.
The second surety, the court held, must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15 and must also submit official identification and passport photographs.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned until July 16, 2026 for commencement of trial.
