Updated February 9 

A woman was defrauded out of thousands of euro by four men and one woman who lured her into a fake virtual relationship by posing as a US soldier stationed in Afghanistan, a court heard late on Monday. 

The case is believed to be the first of its kind to be prosecuted in the history of the Maltese courts. 

Police say the group of five – four Nigerian men and one Maltese women – tricked the woman by fostering an online relationship with a fictitious soldier who told her he was moving to Malta following his deployment.

She transferred €58,000 to him in a series of small bank transactions to local banks. 

Prosecutors say the ruse was created by 34-year-old Tony Ogbonna Anuforo, Marvis Iyeke, 35, Collins Eguavoen, 29, Sunday Eboh, 39 and 58-year-old Alexandra Pace.

Eboh is a familiar name locally: the former footballer played for a series of Maltese clubs over the past 20 years, from Marsa to Birkirkara, Floriana, Marsaxlokk, Naxxar and Pembroke. He retired in 2020. 

Sunday Eboh. Photo: Playmakerstats.com

Police closed in on the alleged fraudsters following a months-long investigation by Paola district police and the police's anti-money laundering unit.

All five were arraigned late on Monday night and charged with money laundering, theft and profiting from the proceeds of crime. Pace was also charged with making false declarations and being a recidivist while Eguavoen was also charged with breaching bail conditions from a separate case. 

Magistrate Doreen Clarke denied them bail, acknowledging prosecutors’ fears that the accused could tamper with evidence. 

Karl Muscat, Sean Xerri de Caro and Abigail Caruana Vella from the office of the attorney general prosecuted. 

Police inspector Sarah Zerafa from the Paola district and police inspector Claire Borg from the financial crimes department assisted. 

Lawyers Leontine Calleja, Robert Anthony Piscopo and Charles Mercieca appeared for the accused.