“I Am Special Assistant To The President” — EFCC Arraigns Igoin Tokoni Peter For Alleged Impersonation, ₦45.7m Fraud As Court Grants ₦400m Bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Igoin Tokoni Peter before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly impersonating a presidential aide and obtaining millions of naira under false pretences.

Peter was arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.

The EFCC disclosed the arraignment in a post on its X handle on Tuesday.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly presented himself as the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation and used the claim to obtain funds from companies under the pretext of helping them secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.

In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Peter, between August 30, 2024 and October 30, 2025, in Abuja, obtained the sum of ₦25,941,787 from Dontown Assets Limited through a Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account domiciled with Zenith Bank.

The commission said the money was allegedly obtained under the false claim that Peter was a presidential aide and that the funds would be used to secure a cryptocurrency exchange operational licence.

In another count, the EFCC alleged that Peter, between September 5, 2024 and October 10, 2025, obtained ₦19,806,500 from Jeriod Limited through the same Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account under similar pretences.

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Peter pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, asked the court for a trial date and urged that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.

Justice Egwuatu, however, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of ₦400 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court ordered that both sureties must be resident in Abuja. One of them must be a property owner and must submit property documents, a passport photograph and means of identification.

The second surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15, who is also required to submit office identification and a passport photograph.

The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.