Victor Ekpong Thompson mining fraud — A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has heard how an alleged forged mining licence was used by defendant, Victor Ekpong Thompson, to defraud three American investors of $525,276.

The court, presided over by Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu, received the testimony of the second prosecution witness, Michael Eyo, during the ongoing trial of Thompson over alleged mining and investment fraud.

According to Eyo, Thompson allegedly deceived him into releasing his original mining licence documents, photographed them, and later used the documents to convince foreign investors that he operated a legitimate mining business.

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“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,” Eyo told the court.

Eyo explained that he owns a mining site located in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State. However, he alleged that Thompson unlawfully used the documents to support fake mining investment claims presented to foreign investors.

Thompson was first arraigned on January 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 all the charges.

One of the charges stated:

“That you Victor Ekpong Thompson, on or between January 2025 to June 2025 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with 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 under the pretense of investing the money in mining of mineral resources and Deep Sea Port business.”

The prosecution said the alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Meanwhile, defence counsel, Madu Uwem Amamko, moved a motion seeking bail for the defendant on health grounds. However, prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, opposed the application, arguing that Thompson’s health condition was not life-threatening.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Onyetenu adjourned ruling on the bail application until June 8, 2026.

Earlier in the trial on March 26, 2026, one of the alleged victims, Tammy Jensen, narrated how she met Thompson on Facebook in August 2022.

She told the court that Thompson introduced himself as a dealer in precious stones and persuaded her alongside other investors to finance a mining project under a proposed company, Arch Royale Projects Limited.

According to Jensen, the proposed mining project was to be located in Iwuru Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

She further stated that Thompson later introduced another investment opportunity involving a proposed Deep Sea Port project in Akwa Ibom State, which allegedly promised massive returns on investment.

Jensen told the court that between 2023 and 2025, investors transferred an aggregate sum of $525,276 into Thompson’s bank accounts.

However, she said suspicions grew after she visited the project site and discovered that the business arrangement was allegedly a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive investors.

Thompson’s arrest followed a petition dated October 18, 2025, filed on behalf of several American investors, including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen, Beth Southwick, and Angie Craven.

According to the petition, Thompson allegedly contacted Tammy Jensen through Facebook on August 20, 2022, presenting himself as a genuine businessman involved in the exploration of precious stones such as emerald, ruby, and sapphire.

Investigators alleged that he gained the confidence of the investors by presenting false credentials and introducing Arch Royale Projects Limited as a supposedly operational company linked to mining and deep seaport projects.

The matter continues before the Federal High Court in Uyo.

Keyphrase: Victor Ekpong Thompson mining fraud