Abuja, July 25, 2025 – A self-acclaimed Nigeria Customs Service officer has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly defrauding multiple victims of a combined sum of N34 million under the guise of facilitating non-existent auctioned goods.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the suspect to court, identified him as Emmanuel Okoro. According to the anti-graft agency, Okoro posed as a legitimate customs officer and deceived unsuspecting individuals into believing he could assist them in purchasing seized vehicles and goods through auction.
The EFCC prosecuting counsel informed the court that the accused, operating over several months, convinced his victims to make various payments into designated bank accounts on the pretense of processing their auction allocations. However, investigations later revealed that the suspect had no affiliation with the Nigeria Customs Service and that the promised items were fictitious.
Okoro is facing multiple charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, and criminal breach of trust, all of which violate sections of Nigeria’s criminal code and the EFCC Act.
When the charges were read in court, the accused pleaded not guilty. The prosecution requested that the court remand the defendant in custody pending trial, citing the magnitude of the fraud and the risk of interference with witnesses.
Justice Mohammed Bello of the Federal High Court granted the request and ordered the suspect to be remanded at a correctional facility until the next hearing date, which was fixed for August 14, 2025.
The EFCC urged members of the public to be cautious of individuals posing as government agents, especially when it comes to auction or recruitment schemes, emphasizing that all legitimate customs auctions are publicly advertised and conducted transparently.
The case underscores the growing concern over impersonation-related scams and reaffirms the commission’s commitment to rooting out fraudulent actors from society.
