The accused was presented before Justice U.P. Kekemeke on two counts related to theft
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of $13,204.00, a plot of land, and two vehicles from Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, an individual currently on trial for allegedly deceiving an American woman named Nicole Kierulff Sayers into a fraudulent marriage and swindling her out of $370,000.
Nwachi was apprehended in Abuja on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, and subsequently brought before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, in March on charges related to internet fraud.
The accused was presented before Justice U.P. Kekemeke on two counts related to theft, obtaining money under false pretenses, and possession of counterfeit documents. According to a statement released by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Sayers alleged that the defendant manipulated her into a fictitious marriage and unlawfully took her savings.
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, during the trial of Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, Okanne Kelechi, the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), informed Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory about the accused’s actions in defrauding Nicole Kierulff Sayers of $370,000 in a sham marriage.
During the trial at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the EFCC revealed that it had recovered $13,204.00 (Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Four United States Dollars) from the defendant.
Additionally, the defendant was found to possess a plot of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, along with a Lexus Ex 350 and Toyota Venza cars.
The witness, led in evidence by prosecution counsel Fatsuma Muhammad, disclosed that incriminating evidence against the defendant included various fraudulent profiles on LinkedIn, which the defendant admitted to creating, as well as a fraudulent contract award letter printed from his phone.
This same letter had been sent to the American victim in their conversations, falsely claiming that the contract had been awarded to him by the Federal government.
Kelechi further informed the court that the investigation involved sending a letter of inquiry regarding the defendant’s activities to the Forensic Department of the EFCC, as well as contacting several local banks and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, with the aforementioned fraudulent contract award letter attached.
Furthermore, he informed the court that upon inquiry with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, it was confirmed that the contract award was not authentic.
The defendant himself confessed to sending the counterfeit contract award letter to Sayers and other victims abroad.
“We have received the forensic report on his electronic devices. Nicole, the victim, provided evidence of transactions received from international money transfer operators.
Through our analysis, we discovered that a portion of these funds was deposited into a bank account under the supervision of his sister, Nwachi Doris Chinenye,” he stated.
Submitted as evidence against the defendant were a certificate of identification, a notice of nominal complaint along with copies of the contract award intent, and an iPhone 11Pro Max.
The PW2 also informed the court that when presented with the evidence, the defendant’s legal team responded with a plea bargain request letter.
“We have recovered $13,204, as well as a Lexus Ex350 and a Toyota Venza,” he concluded.
Justice Kekemeke postponed the proceedings to April 30, 2024, for the trial to resume.
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