A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Victor Ekpong Thompson has narrated before a federal high court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, how the defendant allegedly forged a mining licence and used it to defraud American investors of more than $525,000.
The development was disclosed in a statement published on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
According to the EFCC, the second prosecution witness, Michael Eyo, testified before Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu that Thompson deceived him into releasing his mining licence documents, which were later used to persuade foreign investors to fund a fraudulent mining venture.
Eyo, who identified himself as the owner of a mining site located in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, told the court that Thompson requested access to the original licence documents under the pretext of verifying their authenticity.
“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 said.
Thompson is currently facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, and stealing.
The EFCC stated that the defendant was first arraigned on January 29, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
One of the charges alleged that Thompson fraudulently obtained $123,030 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad, and other investors by falsely claiming the funds would be invested in mineral mining and a Deep Sea Port project.
“That you Victor Ekpong Thompson, on or between January, 2025 to June 2025 in Nigeria, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with the intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the total sum of One Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand and Thirty United States Dollars ($123,030 USD) from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others (joint unsuspecting investors), under the pretense of investing the money in mining of Mineral Resources and Deep Sea Port Business,” the charge read in part.
The anti-graft agency further disclosed that defence counsel, Madu Uwem Amamko, had applied for bail on health grounds. However, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin opposed the request, arguing that the defendant’s condition was not life-threatening.
Justice Onyetenu subsequently reserved ruling on the bail application until June 8, 2026.
The EFCC also recalled that one of the foreign investors, Tammy Jensen, had earlier testified before the court that she met Thompson on Facebook in August 2022 after he presented himself as a dealer in precious stones.
According to the commission, Jensen said Thompson convinced her and other investors to finance a mining project through a proposed company known as Arch Royale Projects Limited, allegedly situated in Iwuru Community, Cross River State.
She further told the court that Thompson later introduced another investment opportunity involving a proposed Deep Sea Port project in Akwa Ibom State, promising substantial returns.
The EFCC said Jensen revealed that between 2023 and 2025, a total of $525,276 was transferred to Thompson through various financial platforms, including Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, and WorldRemit.
Suspicion reportedly arose after Jensen visited Nigeria in June 2025 and discovered inconsistencies surrounding the projects.
According to EFCC investigations, Thompson allegedly diverted a significant portion of the funds for personal use.
The commission added that assets traced to the defendant include a two-storey duplex located at Shelter Afrique Estate in Uyo, a Toyota Hilux vehicle, and a grey Lexus RX350.
