“He Contacted Me On Facebook On My Birthday” — American Lawyer Recounts Romance Scam As Nigerian Man Bags Seven-Year Jail Term

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley to seven years’ imprisonment for defrauding an American lawyer, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, of $205,238 through a fraudulent government contract scheme.

Justice U. P. Kekemeke delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after finding Kingsley guilty on a two-count amended charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court sentenced the convict to seven years’ imprisonment on each count, without an option of fine, and ordered that the sentences run concurrently at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Justice Kekemeke also ordered Kingsley to refund the sum of $205,238 to the victim as restitution for the money fraudulently obtained from her.

Kingsley was prosecuted on charges bordering on possession of a document containing false pretences and obtaining money by false pretences in connection with a purported contract awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

According to the EFCC, one of the charges accused Kingsley of possessing a fraudulent notice of intent to award a contract, purportedly issued in his name by the ministry.

The second count alleged that he obtained $205,238 from Sayers by falsely representing that the money was required to finance a Federal Government contract, knowing that the representation was false.

During the trial, Sayers, an American lawyer based in Oregon, United States, testified about how Kingsley established a relationship with her through Facebook before persuading her to transfer substantial sums of money to him.

She told the court that Kingsley first contacted her on her birthday and introduced himself as a member of the same spiritual organisation to which she belonged.

“I know the defendant. The defendant messaged me on Facebook on my birthday and he said he was a member of the same spiritual organization as me,” she testified.

According to Sayers, their initial conversations gradually developed into a romantic relationship, leading her to trust Kingsley and believe the claims he subsequently made about his business activities in Nigeria.

She explained that Kingsley later informed her that he was pursuing a contract with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing but required financial assistance to secure and execute the project.

The defendant allegedly claimed that some individuals were threatening his life because he had not provided the money required to facilitate the purported contract.

Sayers told the court that Kingsley supplied her with information about the alleged contract, including an official-looking logo and other details that made the transaction appear genuine.

She said her emotional attachment to Kingsley influenced her decision to believe his explanations and provide financial assistance.

The witness testified that Kingsley initially requested $15,000, promising to refund the money within 45 days.

Believing his assurances, she transferred the amount to him through a money transfer application.

Sayers further disclosed that Kingsley subsequently introduced her to members of his family during a video call.

According to her, the family members thanked her for assisting Kingsley in securing the purported government contract, further strengthening her belief that his claims were genuine.

She told the court that she had transferred approximately $40,000 to Kingsley before deciding to travel to Nigeria to meet him in person.

Sayers testified that she arrived in Abuja in March 2022 and spent two weeks with the defendant at his rented residence in Sun City, Abuja.

She explained that she continued the relationship partly because she hoped to recover the money she had already transferred to him.

However, rather than refunding the money, Kingsley allegedly continued requesting additional funds under various circumstances.

According to Sayers, the defendant repeatedly claimed that he needed financial assistance for medical emergencies, surgical procedures, malaria treatment and the purchase of supplies for the purported government contract.

She told the court that the requests resulted in more than 125 financial transactions over approximately 12 months.

By her estimation, she transferred well over $200,000 to Kingsley during that period.

The witness also recounted an incident in which Kingsley presented her with a document he claimed showed that he had attempted to transfer $10,000 to her as part of the repayment.

She testified that Kingsley subsequently claimed the bank had intercepted the transaction because the funds were allegedly connected to the misappropriation of government money.

According to her, he further claimed that the development had led to his arrest and detention.

Kingsley allegedly used the purported arrest to request additional money from Sayers, claiming that he needed funds to secure bail and pay bribes in connection with the supposed criminal case.

Sayers told the court that she repeatedly demanded repayment of her money, but Kingsley continued making promises without fulfilling them.

She explained that the defendant eventually requested her bank account details and assured her that he would transfer the money the following day.

However, the promised repayment never materialised.

The witness said she eventually realised that Kingsley had no intention of refunding the money she had transferred to him.

At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, EFCC counsel, Fatsuma Muhammad, urged the court to convict and sentence Kingsley in accordance with the law.

Delivering judgment, Justice Kekemeke found the defendant guilty on both counts.

The judge sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count without an option of fine, directing that the two sentences run concurrently.

The court further ordered Kingsley to make restitution of $205,238 to Sayers.

The conviction was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

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