By Atoyebi Nike
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, has arraigned two individuals, Nathaniel Makama Zabrang and Husain Umar Bawa, before Justice M.J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court over alleged internet fraud and impersonation.
The suspects are facing separate charges of obtaining money under false pretence, following investigations that linked them to online fraud schemes targeting foreign victims.
According to the EFCC, Zabrang allegedly posed as “Alicia Smith,” an American citizen, on Instagram between January and June 2025. He reportedly defrauded several unsuspecting victims of a total sum of ₦10,019,028. His charge states that he committed an offence under Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, which is punishable under Section 309 of the same law.
Similarly, Bawa is accused of impersonating “Bernard Lewis,” also an American citizen, on Facebook from January to December 2023. He allegedly swindled one Kathleen Hernandez, a U.S. national, out of ₦8,613,989.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were brought before the court.
Prosecution counsel, K.S. Ogunlade, applied for a trial date and requested that the suspects be remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kaduna. Justice Zubairu granted the application and fixed August 11, 2025, for the ruling on their bail applications.
The EFCC confirmed that the defendants were arrested after credible intelligence linked them to fraudulent cyber activities in the Kaduna metropolis.
