How accused forged mining licence to defraud US investors of $525,276 — witness
A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has heard how an alleged fraudster, Victor Ekpong Thompson, purportedly used a forged mining licence to defraud three American investors of $525,276.
The second prosecution witness, Michael Eyo, told the court presided over by Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu that Thompson photographed his genuine mining licence and later used it to deceive investors into believing he had legitimate mining operations.
Thompson was first arraigned on Jan. 29, 2026, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and stealing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
One of the charges alleged that Thompson fraudulently obtained $123,030 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and other investors under the pretext of investing the funds in mineral mining and a Deep Sea Port business.
While giving evidence, Eyo said he owned a mining site in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State and that Thompson convinced him to present the original copy of his mining licence for verification. “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 told the court.
Defence counsel, Madu Uwem Amamko, had earlier applied for bail on health grounds, but prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, opposed the application, arguing that the defendant’s health condition was not life-threatening. Justice Onyetenu subsequently reserved ruling on the bail application until June 8, 2026.
Earlier during the trial on March 26, 2026, one of the investors, Tammy Jensen, narrated how she met Thompson on Facebook in August 2022 after he presented himself as a dealer in precious stones. She said he persuaded her and other investors to fund a mining venture through a proposed company, Arch Royale Projects Limited, and also introduced a Deep Sea Port investment project in Akwa Ibom State.
According to the prosecution, between June 2023 and August 2025, the investors transferred a total of $525,276 to Thompson through Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, WorldRemit and other accounts linked to him. Investigators alleged that Thompson diverted substantial portions of the funds for personal use, while assets traced to him include a two-storey duplex at Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo, a Toyota Hilux and a Lexus RX350 vehicle.
