The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a man accused of impersonating a presidential aide and allegedly defrauding individuals and companies of more than N25 million under the guise of facilitating cryptocurrency exchange licences.
The defendant, Igoin Tokoni Peter, was brought before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday over a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.
According to the anti-graft agency, Peter allegedly presented himself as the Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation and used the false identity to obtain funds from his victims.
One of the charges alleged that Peter, between August 30, 2024 and October 30, 2025, obtained N25,941,787 through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited’s Zenith Bank account from Dontown Assets Limited under the claim that the funds would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.
The charge stated: “That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter… with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N25,941,787.00… under the pretence that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational license, which you knew to be false.”
In a separate count, prosecutors alleged that Peter obtained another N19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited between September 5, 2024 and October 10, 2025, using similar claims.
The charge read in part: “That you… with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N19,806,500.00… under the pretence that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations.”
Peter pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to fix a trial date and order that the defendant be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently granted Peter bail in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that both sureties must be residents of Abuja. One of the sureties must own property and submit relevant property documents, a passport photograph and a valid means of identification, while the second surety must be a Grade Level 15 civil servant who is also required to submit official identification and a passport photograph.
The judge further ordered that the defendant be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned until July 16, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
The EFCC disclosed the development in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday. #Securitynewsalert.com
