The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Igoin Tokoni Peter for allegedly posing as a presidential adviser and defrauding two companies of over N45 million under the guise of securing cryptocurrency exchange licences.
Peter was arraigned before Obiora Egwuatu, judge of the federal high court in Abuja, on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly presented himself as “special assistant to the president on ICT development and digital innovations” to obtain funds from unsuspecting victims.
One of the charges alleged that Peter obtained N25.9 million from Dontown Assets Limited between August 2024 and October 2025 through the account of Smartz Skyward Energy Limited domiciled in Zenith Bank.
The EFCC said the defendant claimed the money would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.
The commission said the representation was false and constituted an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
In another count, the EFCC accused Peter of obtaining N19.8 million from Jeriod Limited under the same pretence.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following his plea, Christopher Mshelia, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
In his ruling, the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge held that both sureties must reside in Abuja, while one of them must own landed property and submit relevant title documents, passport photographs and means of identification.
Egwuatu also ruled that the second surety must be a civil servant not below grade level 15 and must provide official identification and passport photographs.
The court ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned until July 16 for the commencement of trial.
