Alleged $370,000 Fake Marriage: EFCC Recovers $13,204, Property, Vehicles from Defendant-Witness

In a significant development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made strides in the trial of Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, who stands accused of defrauding an American citizen, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, of $370,000 through a contrived marriage.

Testifying as the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Okanne Kelechi revealed before Justice U.P Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, that the EFCC has successfully recovered $13,204 along with other assets from the defendant.

Among the recovered assets detailed by Kelechi were a plot of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and vehicles including a Lexus Ex 350 and Toyota Venza cars. The witness, led by prosecution counsel Fatsuma Muhammad, disclosed crucial evidence against the defendant, including the existence of fraudulent profiles on LinkedIn that Kingsley admitted to creating. Additionally, a fabricated contract award letter purportedly issued by the Federal government was found on Kingsley’s phone, further implicating him in the scam.

Kelechi elaborated on the investigative process, which involved reaching out to the Forensic Department of the EFCC, local banks, and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing regarding the authenticity of the contract award letter. The response received from the Ministry indicated that the award was indeed fraudulent. Kingsley admitted to sending this falsified document to Sayers and other victims abroad, implicating himself further in the deception.

Furthermore, Kelechi revealed that analysis of Kingsley’s gadgets uncovered damning evidence, corroborated by transaction records received from international money transfer operators, which traced part of the defrauded funds to an account supervised by Kingsley’s sister, Nwachi Doris Chinenye.

During the trial, various pieces of evidence were tendered against the defendant, including a certificate of identification, a notice of nominal complaint with copies of intent to award contracts, and an iPhone 11Pro Max. In response to the mounting evidence, Kingsley’s legal team sought a plea bargain, which ultimately led to the recovery of $13,204, as well as the seized vehicles.

Justice Kekemeke adjourned the trial until April 30, 2024, for further proceedings, marking a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice in this alleged fraudulent marriage case.

Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley’s arrest on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in Abuja, stemmed from accusations by Nicole Kierulff Sayers, who claimed to have been deceived into a false marriage and defrauded of her savings by the defendant. The ongoing trial serves as a testament to the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.