A witness, Michael Eyo, on Wednesday told a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, how a defendant, Victor Thompson, allegedly forged his mining licence and used it to defraud three American investors of $525,276.
Thompson is standing trial before Justice Maurine Onyetenu on an eight-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and stealing.
He had earlier pleaded not guilty when arraigned on January 29, 2026.
One of the charges alleges that between January and June 2025, the defendant fraudulently obtained $123,030 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and other investors under the guise of investing in mineral resources and a deep sea port project, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Testifying in court, Eyo said he owned a mining site in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State and that the defendant obtained his mining licence under false pretences before using it to deceive foreign investors.
“The fraudster asked me to bring the originals of my licence to verify the authenticity.
“Thereafter, he snapped the licence not knowing that he was doing it to forge and convince the investors,” he told the court.
Defence counsel, Madu Amamko, had earlier moved a bail application on health grounds, but it was opposed by prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, who argued that the defendant’s health condition did not warrant release.
After hearing both sides, Justice Onyetenu reserved ruling on the bail application until June 8, 2026.
Earlier in the proceedings, one of the alleged victims, Tammy Jensen, testified that she met Thompson on Facebook in August 2022, where he presented himself as a dealer in precious stones.
She said he later persuaded her and other investors to finance a mining venture under Arch Royale Projects Limited, purportedly located in Iwuru Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Jensen also told the court that Thompson introduced another investment opportunity involving a deep sea port project in Akwa Ibom State, promising high returns.
Read also:
- Alleged N36m Fraud: EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO in Lagos
- US court jails Nigerian professor over $1.4 million preschool fraud scheme
- EFCC arrests Energy Commission DG over alleged N500bn fraud
She said that between 2023 and 2025, a total of $525,276 was transferred to accounts linked to him.
According to her, she later discovered upon visiting the project site in 2025, that the entire arrangement was fraudulent.
Court records further showed that the petition against Thompson, dated October 18, 2025, was filed on behalf of several U.S. investors, including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen, Beth Southwick and Angie Craven.
Investigators further traced assets to the defendant, including a two-storey duplex in Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo, a Toyota Hilux, and a Lexus RX350.
The matter was adjourned to June 8, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.
