A Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, in the trial of Nwachi
Chidozie Kingsley, being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, for defrauding an American, Nicole Kierulff Sayers the
sum of $370,000 (Three Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States
Dollars) in a contrived marriage, Okanne Kelechi, on Tuesday, February
13, 2024 told Justice U.P Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,
High Court, Maitama, Abuja that the EFCC has recovered the sum of $13,204.00
(Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Four United States Dollars) from the
defendant.
Also recovered from the defendant is a plot of land in Port
Harcourt, Rivers state, a Lexus Ex 350 and Toyota Venza cars.
The witness who was led in evidence by the prosecution
counsel, Fatsuma Muhammad disclosed that among the evidence against the
defendant are “various fraudulent profiles in Linkedin which he admitted to
creating,” adding that there was also a fraudulent contract award letter
printed from his phone. That same letter was sent to his American victim
in chats claiming that the contract was awarded to him by the Federal
government.”
Kelechi told the court that investigation into the
matter involved writing a letter of investigation of the defendant’s
activities to the Forensic Department of the EFCC, several local banks as
well as the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, with the purported contract
award letter attached.
He further told the court that a response from the Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing indicated that the award was not genuine. The
defendant admitted sending the fake contract award letter to Sayers and other
foreign victims
“We received our report from the Forensic Department and
our findings for his gadgets. The victim, Nicole, also sent evidence of
transactions received from international money transfer operators. From other
analyses, we discovered that part of this money was sent into his bank account
supervised by his sister, one Nwachi Doris Chinenye”, he said.
Tendered in evidence against the defendant were certificate
of identification, notice of nominal complaint with copies of intent to award
contract and iPhone 11Pro Max.
The PW2 further informed the court that upon confronting the
defendant with the evidence, his lawyers responded with a letter for a plea
bargain. “We recovered $13,204, Lexus Ex350 and Toyota Venza.
Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter till April 30, 2024 for
continuation of trial.
Nwachi was arrested on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in
Abuja for allegedly marrying an American, Nicole Kierulff Sayers falsely
and defrauded her in the process.
Sayers alleged that the defendant lured her into a false marriage and defrauded her of her savings.
