The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a couple, Marian Elia and Izuchukwu Uzoma, before Justice C. A. Obiozor of the Edo Division of the Federal High Court on charges of stealing N35,920,000.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement on Wednesday, said the lovers were arraigned on seven counts of cybercrime, conspiracy, and stealing.

According to the EFCC, they were alleged to have conspired and stolen N35.920 million belonging to one Mrs Esther Ogbeifun.

“Investigation by the commission revealed that Elia, who grew up in the house of the victim, had access to her phones and bank information and allegedly executed a transfer of the said sum from the victim’s account into that of Uzoma, her boyfriend. And both converted the money to their personal use,” the EFCC noted.

The anti-graft agency said Ms Elia used the access device issued to Ms Ogbeifun, a Moniepoint personal banking app with account number 6513141114, to transfer the money to account number 2318786590 domiciled in United Bank for Africa, operated by Izuchukwu Uzoma, resulting in a loss to Ms Ogbeifun.

The couple pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, to ask the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants to a correctional centre.

The judge remanded the defendants in prison custody and adjourned the matter until December 7 for hearing.