The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two persons, Nathaniel Zabrang, and Husain Bawa, before Justice M.J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court for alleged internet fraud.  

This was stated in a statement by EFCC on X (Formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stressing that the duo was arraigned on different charges bordering on impersonation and acquiring money under false pretence.  EFCC agents detained Zabrang and Bawa in the city of Kaduna after receiving reliable information that connected them to fraudulent online activity.  

Court documents claim that between January and June 2025, Zabrang fraudulently acquired N10,019,028 from a number of unwary victims by posing on Instagram as Alicia Smith, an American citizen.

Count two of his charge reads: “That you, Nathaniel Makama Zabrang, (a.k.a Alicia Smith), male, between January and June, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Alicia Smith (a citizen of United States of America) on ‘Instagram’ (an online social media application) and benefitted the total sum of N10,019,028 (Ten Million, Nineteen Thousand and Twenty Eight Naira) from several unsuspecting victims and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

Similarly, Bawa was accused of using Facebook between January and December 2023 to pose as Bernard Lewis, who likewise claimed to be a U.S. citizen.  He is accused of defrauding Kathleen Harnandez out of N8,613,989.

Count one of his charge reads: “That you, Husain Umar Bawa (a.k.a Bernard Lewis), male, between January and December, 2023 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated Bernard Lewis (a citizen of United States of America) on ‘Facebook’ (an online social media application) and benefitted the sum of N8,613,989 (Eight Million, Six Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Nine Naira, only) from Kathleen Harnandez (a woman from United States America) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

After the allegations were read to them, both defendants entered not guilty pleas.  Prosecution attorney K.S. Ogunlade asked the court to confine the defendants to the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kaduna and set a trial date after they entered their plea.  

In order to decide on the defendants' bail requests, Justice Zubairu postponed the case to August 11, 2025.  

In addition, he mandated their remand in the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kaduna while the decision was being made.

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