The Con Artist: How Chidozie swindled an American woman of $370,000

The Con Artist: How Chidozie swindled an American woman of $370,000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently prosecuting Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley on charges of stealing, obtaining by false pretense, and criminal possession of fake documents amounting to $370,000.

Nicole Kierulff Sayers, an American and a lawyer from Oregon, testified as the third Prosecution Witness (PW3) in the ongoing trial at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja. She detailed how Kingsley and his entire family allegedly conspired to defraud her of the substantial sum.

“One of the counts against him reads, ‘That you, Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley sometime in 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the total sum of $370,000 from Nicole Kierulff Sayers under the false pretense of being a purported payment to finance a contract with Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with Contract No: RC/FGN/0275AN/20 issued to Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley, a claim which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act’,” stated the EFCC.

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During her testimony led by prosecution counsel Fatsuma Muhammad, Sayers identified Kingsley in court as the individual who initially messaged her on Facebook during her birthday. Their conversation evolved into romantic discussions and ultimately into a romantic relationship.

“I know the defendant,” Sayers affirmed. “He messaged me on Facebook on my birthday and claimed to be a member of the same spiritual organisation as me. We engaged in romantic discussions and phrases that escalated into a relationship of a romantic type.”

Sayers further elaborated that Kingsley solicited financial assistance to fund a contract allegedly awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing, citing threats to his life if he failed to secure the necessary funds. She stated, “Eleven days before we met in person, he asked me for money to finance a contract with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He alleged that individuals were threatening his life if he did not provide the money to secure the contract.”

Believing his claims due to her vulnerable state and emotional attachment, Sayers transferred $15,000 to Kingsley with the expectation of repayment within 45 days.

“I transferred the money using a money transfer app,” she recalled. “He received the money, and within one week, he asked me to join him in a FaceTime video call with his family.”

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Sayers recounted her visit to Kingsley’s parents’ house where his entire family, including his sister Doris Nwachi, brother Kenneth Nwachi, sister-in-law Loveline, father Chizom, mother Victoria, and his alleged daughter Princess, then two years old, were present. She expressed shock upon discovering their involvement in the purported contract and the gratitude they expressed towards her for saving Kingsley’s job.

“I didn’t realise that the entire family could conspire against one innocent woman like myself,” she lamented.

Before traveling to Nigeria, Sayers had already sent approximately $40,000 to Kingsley. During her two-week stay in Abuja in late March 2022, she resided at Kingsley’s rented house in Sun City despite his frequent absences. Over the following months, Kingsley continued to request money under various pretexts such as medical emergencies, government contract supplies, and legal fees due to alleged brushes with the law.

“The total amount, to my best estimate, was well over $200,000 in a period of twelve months from January to December,” Sayers testified. “He claimed he attempted to wire me money on several occasions, producing what he claimed was a bank document showing a $10,000 transfer intercepted by the bank due to misappropriation concerns.”

According to Sayers, Kingsley also claimed incarceration for misappropriation and persuaded her to bail him out, further draining her finances.

“After showing him my desperation, he finally agreed to wire more money to me,” she recounted. “But he never followed through.”

The trial was adjourned until November 7 for further proceedings.

Proofreading, editing by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime.