A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Victor Ekpong Thompson has told the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, that the defendant allegedly forged a mining licence and used it to defraud three American investors of $525,276.
The witness, Michael Eyo, who testified as the second prosecution witness (PW2) before Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu, alleged that Thompson obtained and copied his mining licence under false pretences before presenting it to foreign investors as his own.
According to Eyo, who said he owns a mining site in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Thompson requested to see the original licence documents to verify 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,” Eyo told the court.
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 charges.
One of the charges alleged that between January and June 2025, Thompson fraudulently obtained $123,030 from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad, and other investors under the guise of investing in mineral resources and a Deep Sea Port business.
During the proceedings, defence counsel Madu Uwem Amamko filed a bail application on health grounds, arguing that the defendant required medical attention. However, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin opposed the request, insisting that Thompson’s health condition was not life-threatening.
After hearing arguments from both parties, 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, where he introduced himself as a dealer in precious stones.
She told the court that Thompson persuaded her and other investors to fund a mining project through a proposed company, Arch Royale Projects Limited, located in Iwuru Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Jensen further alleged that Thompson later introduced another investment opportunity involving a proposed Deep Sea Port project in Akwa Ibom State, promising huge returns on investment.
According to her testimony, between 2023 and 2025, the investors transferred a total of $525,276 into Thompson’s accounts. She explained that after visiting Nigeria and inspecting the project site in June 2025, she discovered inconsistencies that made her suspect the investment scheme was fraudulent.
The case against Thompson reportedly followed a petition filed on October 18, 2025, by a group of American investors, including Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen, Beth Southwick, and Angie Craven.
The petition alleged that Thompson posed as a legitimate businessman involved in the exploration of precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, using false claims and forged credentials to gain the confidence of investors.
Investigators further alleged that Thompson falsely presented Arch Royale Projects Limited as a registered company and exaggerated operational costs while diverting investors’ funds for personal use.
In relation to the Deep Sea Port project, Thompson allegedly claimed involvement in a $6.7 billion project and demanded $110,000 as documentation fees, claiming government officials had already funded other aspects of the venture.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said investigations revealed that the funds were transferred through Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, WorldRemit, and other accounts linked to the defendant.
Assets allegedly traced to Thompson include a two-storey duplex at Shelter Afrique Estate in Uyo, a Toyota Hilux, and a grey Lexus RX350.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
