RismadarVoice Reporters
May 26, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 15, 2026, arraigned one Igoin Tokoni Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly impersonating a presidential aide and defrauding victims of over N25 million.
Peter was arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.
The defendant was accused of parading himself as a Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, a position the EFCC said he falsely used to defraud unsuspecting victims under the guise of securing cryptocurrency exchange operational licences.
In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that between August 2024 and October 2025, the defendant obtained the sum of N25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited through an account belonging to Smartz Skyward Energy Limited, claiming the funds would be used to obtain regulatory approval for a crypto-related business.
In another count, he was accused of obtaining N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited under similar pretences.
The EFCC said the offences contravene Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
Justice Egwuatu granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one surety must be a property owner resident in Abuja, while the second must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15.
The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until he fulfils his bail conditions and adjourned the case to July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.
