The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, arraigned a woman, identified as Ifeoma Joe, and her 34-year-old son, Chima Mike Nmerem, before Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The mother and son were brought before the court on serious allegations related to a N64.4 million fraud targeting a Nigerian woman based in the United States.
The duo faces a four-count charge filed by the EFCC, which includes conspiracy, criminal misrepresentation, advance fee fraud, and obtaining money under false pretences. The charges stem from an elaborate scheme allegedly carried out between September 10 and December 17, 2024. During this period, they reportedly deceived their victim, Mrs. Felicia Ekwutasi Ikeh, into transferring a total of N64,486,180 to them for a fictitious spiritual service and other fraudulent purposes.
EFCC investigators revealed that the defendants claimed the money was required for a spiritual cleansing ritual and to settle detectives involved in a murder investigation in the United States, which allegedly implicated the victim’s son. The false narrative was reportedly designed to exploit the emotional vulnerability of the petitioner, who believed her son was at risk of imprisonment for allegedly killing his sibling.
The funds were traced to an Access Bank account operated by the son, Chima Mike Nmerem, which was falsely linked to a non-existent spiritual figure identified as “Dr. Uma Ukpai.” Investigations confirmed that the entire claim was fabricated and intended to manipulate the victim into parting with large sums of money under false pretences.
At their court appearance, both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The EFCC’s counsel, K. U. Udus, informed the court that the commission was prepared to proceed with a review of the case, stating that a key prosecution witness was available to testify immediately. However, Justice Ajoku cited time constraints and adjourned the matter to May 28, 2025, for a formal review of the facts. He also ordered that the mother and son be remanded in EFCC custody until the adjourned date.
The case followed a petition submitted by the victim, a U.S.-based Nigerian, who claimed that she was introduced to Ifeoma Joe by her sister. The introduction was allegedly made under the guise that Ifeoma was a spiritualist capable of protecting the victim’s son from criminal prosecution in the U.S. The emotional manipulation and deception that followed culminated in the loss of millions of naira and ultimately led to the criminal charges now faced by the mother-son du
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