The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentence of Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley for acquiring $205,238 from an American, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, beneath false pretence.
Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, convicted Kingsley on Thursday, October 29, 2026, and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on every of the 2 counts, with out an possibility of fantastic.
The sentences are to run concurrently at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The court additionally ordered Kingsley to restitute the sufferer the sum of $205,238 (Two Hundred and Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Eight United States Dollars).
Kingsley was prosecuted by the EFCC on a two-count amended cost bordering on possession of a doc containing false pretence and acquiring cash by false pretence in reference to a purported contract with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
One of the costs accused him of being in possession of a faux discover of intent to award a contract, allegedly issued in his title by the Ministry. The second rely accused him of acquiring $205,238 from Sayers beneath the false pretence that the cash was required to finance a authorities contract, realizing that the declare was false.
While testifying earlier than the court, Sayers, an American lawyer primarily based within the state of Oregon, United States, recognized Kingsley as the person who contacted her on Facebook on her birthday.
“I know the defendant. The defendant messaged me on Facebook on my birthday and he said he was a member of the same spiritual organization as me,” she informed the court.
According to her, their conversations developed right into a romantic relationship, which she stated made her belief him and imagine his claims.
Sayers informed the court that Kingsley subsequently requested her for cash to facilitate the award of a contract by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He allegedly claimed that some males have been threatening his life as a result of he had not offered the cash required to safe the contract.
She stated Kingsley equipped her with particulars of the purported contract, together with a brand and different data, which she believed as a result of she had developed an emotional attachment to him.
The witness additional testified that Kingsley initially requested $15,000, promising to repay the cash inside 45 days. She transferred the cash to him by way of a cash switch utility.
According to Sayers, Kingsley subsequently launched her to members of his household throughout a video name, throughout which they allegedly thanked her for serving to him safe the purported contract.
She informed the court that she had transferred roughly $40,000 to Kingsley earlier than travelling to Nigeria to satisfy him in particular person.
Sayers stated she arrived in Abuja March 2022 and spent two weeks with the defendant at his rented home in Sun City, Abuja. She claimed that she continued the connection as a result of she needed to recuperate her cash.
The witness additional alleged that Kingsley subsequently requested extra funds for varied functions, together with medical emergencies, surgical procedures, malaria remedy and provides for the purported authorities contract.
She informed the court that the requests concerned greater than 125 transactions and that the full quantity she transferred was, by her estimate, properly over $200,000 inside a 12-month interval.
Sayers additionally testified that Kingsley offered her with a doc he claimed was proof that he had tried to switch $10,000 to her.
According to her, he claimed that the financial institution had intercepted the transaction as a result of the cash was allegedly linked to the misappropriation of presidency funds, which he stated had resulted in his arrest and detention.
She additional alleged that Kingsley requested her to offer cash for his bail and for bribes related to the purported felony case.
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Sayers informed the court that she repeatedly requested Kingsley to refund her cash. According to her, he ultimately requested her financial institution particulars and promised to switch the cash the next day, however failed to take action.
She stated she later realised that he wouldn’t repay the cash.
At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, counsel for the EFCC, Fatsuma Muhammad, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant in accordance with the legislation.
In his judgment, Justice Kekemeke discovered Kingsley responsible and sentenced him to imprisonment with out an possibility of fantastic, with the phrases of imprisonment to run concurrently.
Dele Oyewale, mnipr, fcipdm
Head, Media & Publicity
October 29, 2026
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