Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, before the Federal High Court in Enugu over alleged identity theft, forgery and possession of fraudulent documents.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The anti-graft agency alleged that between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2026, the defendant, with intent to defraud, had in her possession a document claiming that she was one Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh, knowing the document contained false pretences.
The Commission also alleged that between Oct. 1 and Oct. 25, 2023, she knowingly forged a Last Minute Healthcare card bearing the name Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh with the intent to defraud.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following her plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending the determination of the case.
Counsel to the defendant, M. I. Odo, urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the defence file a bail application.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned the case until Nov. 19, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the NCoS.
The EFCC disclosed that the defendant is also standing trial before Justice C. A. Ogbuabor of the Enugu State High Court on a separate two-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and obtaining by false pretence involving N19.084 million.
According to the Commission, she pleaded not guilty to the charges before the state high court and was granted bail, while the matter was adjourned until Sept. 18, 2026, for trial.
The EFCC said the defendant was arrested following a petition alleging that she defrauded a victim of N19.084 million under the pretext of procuring a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to facilitate his relocation to the United Kingdom for employment as a caregiver.
The petitioner alleged that after meeting the defendant on TikTok in 2024 and paying the requested amount, she failed to provide the promised documents and subsequently blocked all communication with him.
The Commission said that during a search of the defendant’s residence, its operatives recovered an identification card bearing her photograph but carrying the name Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh.
The EFCC said investigations into the matter were ongoing.
