On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Okanne Kelechi, a Second Prosecution Witness (PW2) in the trial of Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defrauding an American, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, of $370,000 (Three Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars) in a fabricated marriage, informed Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that the EFCC has recovered the amount of $13,204.00 (Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Four United States Dollars) from the defendant.
A parcel of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, a Lexus Ex 350, and Toyota Venza vehicles were also taken from the defendant.
The prosecution’s witness, Fatsuma Muhammad, revealed that among the evidence against the defendant were “various fraudulent profiles in Linkedin which he admitted to creating.” She also mentioned that a fraudulent contract award letter printed from his phone was included in the evidence. In chats, he sent the identical letter to his American victim, saying that the federal government had given him the contract.
According to what Kelechi informed the court, part of the investigation into the case includes sending a letter with the alleged contract award letter attached, detailing the defendant’s activities to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, multiple local banks, and the EFCC’s Forensic Department.
He also informed the court that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had responded, implying that the award was not legitimate. The accused acknowledged providing Sayers and the other international victims with the fictitious contract award letter.
“We got our results regarding his devices and our report from the forensic department. Nicole, the victim, also provided documentation of the transactions she had received from foreign money transfer providers. We learned via additional examinations that a portion of this money was deposited into his bank account, which was overseen by his sister, Nwachi Doris Chinenye,” he stated.
A certificate of identity, a notice of nominal complaint with copies of the intent to award the contract, and an iPhone 11Pro Max were tendered as evidence against the defendant. The PW2 further told the court that after presenting the defendant with the material, his attorneys wrote back proposing a plea deal. “We got $13,204, a Toyota Venza, and a Lexus Ex350 back.
The case was postponed to April 30, 2024 by Justice Kekemeke so that the trial may continue.
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Nwachi was taken into custody in Abuja on charges of fraudulently marrying Nicole Kierulff Sayers, an American, and defrauding her of her money. Sayers claimed the defendant tricked her out of her funds and enticed her into a fictitious marriage.
