EFCC arraigns alleged fake presidential aide over N25m fraud in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a man identified as Igoin Tokoni Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly impersonating a presidential aide and defrauding victims of over N25 million under the guise of securing cryptocurrency exchange operational licences.

Peter was docked before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, and related fraud offences.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the defendant allegedly presented himself as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation in order to convince companies and investors to part with large sums of money.

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Court documents revealed that the alleged fraud occurred between August 2024 and October 2025 in Abuja.

One of the charges alleged that Peter fraudulently obtained N25.9 million from Dontown Assets Limited through the account of Smartz Skyward Energy Limited domiciled in Zenith Bank. Prosecutors told the court that the defendant falsely claimed the money would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.

Another count accused him of obtaining an additional N19.8 million from Jeriod Limited under the same pretence.

The prosecution alleged that Peter knew the representations were false and deliberately used the assumed presidential status to deceive the victims into making the payments.

When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following the plea, Christopher Mshelia,
prosecution counsel requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in custody pending the commencement of trial.

In his ruling, Egwuatu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court ruled that both sureties must be residents of Abuja.

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“One of the sureties must own landed property and provide relevant property documents, valid means of identification, and passport photographs.

“The second surety must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must also provide official identification and passport photographs”, the judge said.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that Peter be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.