In a hearing at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, the third Prosecution Witness, Nicole Sayers, detailed how Nwachi C. Kingsley and his family allegedly defrauded her of $370,000.
The trial, presided over by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, involves charges of theft, obtaining money by false pretenses, and possessing fake documents, brought against Kingsley by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC’s indictment against Kingsley alleges that in 2021, he deceitfully obtained $370,000 from Sayers under the guise of financing a contract with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, a claim the EFCC asserts Kingsley knew was false. This alleged offense violates the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
Sayers, a lawyer from Oregon, USA, recounted how she first encountered Kingsley through a Facebook message on her birthday.
“He said he was a member of the same spiritual organization as me. Our conversations turned romantic, leading to an emotional connection,” she testified.
Kingsley allegedly requested money from Sayers to secure a contract from the Ministry of Works and Housing, claiming his life was in danger if he didn’t provide the funds.
“He asked for $15,000, promising to repay within 45 days. I believed him and transferred the money,” Sayers explained.
Sayers further described how she transferred funds via a money transfer app and was subsequently introduced to Kingsley’s family through a FaceTime call. “I met his parents, siblings, and his young daughter, all of whom expressed gratitude for helping with the contract,” she said, adding that this familial involvement led her to trust Kingsley further.
She revealed that before her arrival in Nigeria, she had sent Kingsley approximately $40,000. During her two-week stay with Kingsley in Abuja, he frequently left her alone despite his promises. Over the next year, she sent additional funds totaling over $200,000 for various reasons Kingsley provided, such as medical expenses and purported contract supplies.
Sayers recounted numerous instances where Kingsley promised repayments, including one claim of attempting to wire $10,000, which he said was intercepted by the bank due to allegations of government fund misappropriation, leading to his brief imprisonment. She even bailed him out, hoping to recover her money.
“By December, after repeated pleas, he promised to wire me money but never did. That’s when I realized I would never see any money from him,” Sayers concluded.
The court adjourned the trial until November 7, 2024, for further proceedings
