The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge involving possession of fraudulent documents, forgery, and identity theft.
Details of the charges
Count one of the charge states: “That you, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, sometime between 1st of January, 2026 to 30th of April, 2026 at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, had in your possession, a document asserting that you are Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh, which to your knowledge contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 6 1 (3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads: “That you, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, sometime between 1st October, 2023 to 25th October, 2023 at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, knowingly forged a Last Minute Healthcare card with number 03332408969 bearing the name of Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
Defendant pleads not guilty
When the charges were read, she pleaded not guilty. Following her plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC (ASE II) Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, requested the court for a trial date to allow the prosecution to present its case and for the defendant to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) facility in Enugu.
The defence counsel, M. I. Odo, asked the court for a short date to enable him to file a bail application. Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned the matter to November 19, 2026 for trial and ordered the defendant remanded at the NCoS facility.
Separate prosecution for N19 million fraud
In a related case, the defendant is also being prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice C. A. Ogbuabor of the Enugu State High Court on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining by false pretence involving N19,084,000 (nineteen million, eighty-four thousand naira). She pleaded not guilty to those charges and was granted bail. That matter was adjourned to September 18, 2026 for trial.
Background of the case
The defendant was arrested after a petitioner reported that in 2024, he informed the defendant—whom he met on TikTok—of his intention to relocate to the United Kingdom through a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to work as a caregiver. After he paid the sum to the defendant for procuring the CoS, the defendant allegedly failed to deliver the promised documents and subsequently blocked him.
During the investigation, EFCC operatives conducted a search at her residence and recovered an identification card bearing the defendant’s photograph but with the name Florence-Gweh Togba Doaryenneh.
