EFCC Arraigns Man for Allegedly Defrauding Americans of Over $500,000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Victor Thompson before the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for allegedly obtaining $525,276 from several American citizens under false pretenses.

Thompson faces eight counts of fraud for purportedly convincing the victims including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, and Peter Jensen to invest in mineral resource mining and a deep-sea port business.

According to a statement by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, one of the charges alleges that Thompson, between April and December 2024, “with intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of $213,350 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others… under the pretence of investing the money in mining of mineral resources and deep sea port business.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in court. Prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin subsequently requested a trial date and asked that Thompson be remanded in a correctional centre pending trial.

Defence lawyer Savn Daniel made an oral application for bail, which the prosecution opposed.

Justice Maureen Adaobi adjourned the case to March 19, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial. The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s detention facility in Uyo until then.