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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Victor Thompson before the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, over an alleged $525,276 fraud.
The commission brought Thompson before Judge Maureen Adaobi last Thursday on eight counts of obtaining money by false pretence, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Monday.
The EFCC alleged that Thompson defrauded several American victims, including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, and Peter Jensen, by claiming he would invest their funds in mineral resource ventures and deep-seaport projects.
According to the agency, the alleged offences took place between April and December 2024.
One of the charges stated that Thompson “fraudulently obtained the sum of two hundred and thirteen thousand, three hundred and fifty United States dollars ($213,350) from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others, being joint unsuspecting investors,” under the pretence that the money would be invested in mining and deep-seaport businesses.
The EFCC said the alleged acts contravened section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under section 1(3) of the same legislation.
Thompson pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the plea, Joshua Adaobi, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the case.
However, Savn Daniel, counsel to Thompson, made an oral application for bail, which the prosecution opposed.
After listening to arguments from both sides, the judge adjourned the matter until March 19 2026, for a ruling on the bail application and the commencement of the trial.
Judge Adaobi ordered that Thompson be remanded at the EFCC detention facility in Uyo pending further proceedings.
