The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged one Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley with an alleged $370,000 internet fraud before Justice U.P Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
On Monday, March 20, 2023, he was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal possession of fake documents.
When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded “not guilty,” prompting the prosecution to ask the court for a trial date and remand.
The defence team, on the other hand, urged the court to release the defendant on bail.
Justice Kekemeke admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (N100, 000,000.00) with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be an owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge ordered the remand of the defendant at the Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. He also adjourned the matter till May 18, 2023 for trial.
Kingsley was arrested on Wednesday February 15, 2023 at the Sun City Estate, Abuja after a petitioner, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, an American, alleged that he lured her into falsely marrying him and carting away her money.
“I was accustomed to transferring money to him and further felt I had no choice, since I had just married him, even though I did not feel confident in my choice to have married him,” she said.