The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its first witness in the ongoing trial of an Akwa Ibom-based man accused of defrauding a foreign national through a romance scam that allegedly netted him more than $41,000.
Testifying before Justice Maurine Oyetenu of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Unyime P. Moses, told the court that investigators uncovered critical evidence linking the defendant, Edidiong Nsidore James, to the alleged fraud during a forensic examination of his mobile devices.
According to the witness, digital conversations recovered from the suspect’s phone detailed an extended online relationship between James and a foreign woman identified as Elizabeth, whom he reportedly addressed affectionately as “My Everything.” The chats allegedly revealed repeated requests for money and efforts to persuade the victim to continue sending funds.
Moses told the court that when Elizabeth demanded the return of her money, the defendant allegedly refused and instead requested additional payments under various pretexts. The prosecution witness said messages extracted from the device showed the defendant insisting that the victim send him more money before he could release the funds she was seeking to recover.
The court also heard that James allegedly dismissed threats by the victim to report him to law enforcement authorities, claiming that the EFCC would be unable to apprehend him.
During her testimony, Moses stated that investigators discovered the defendant had been operating under multiple identities online. She explained that upon his arrest, James introduced himself as “Jessy James,” but a subsequent verification exercise revealed that the name did not correspond with his official records.
The witness further narrated how attempts by the victim to recover her money proved unsuccessful despite repeated pleas. In one of the conversations presented before the court, Elizabeth allegedly described the severe financial hardship she had suffered as a result of the transactions and pleaded with the defendant to return her funds.
Moses also recounted contacting the victim directly during the investigation. According to her, the woman reacted angrily upon hearing the suspect’s name and expressed deep frustration over the alleged fraud, indicating that she preferred any future communication to be conducted through diplomatic channels.
The defendant was arrested on October 8, 2025, during an intelligence-led operation carried out at his residence in Uyo. Items recovered during the operation included two mobile phones—an iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Redmi 13—as well as a Lexus ES350 vehicle. The prosecution tendered the items as exhibits, which were admitted by the court.
Investigators told the court that a forensic analysis of the devices uncovered extensive communications suggesting that the defendant had allegedly maintained the fraudulent scheme for more than three years. The investigation further indicated that the victim had transferred at least $41,000 to the suspect during that period.
During questioning, James reportedly claimed that his income was derived from a sports betting business and a social media account promotion service through which he allegedly increased followers for clients. However, investigators said they found no evidence to support those claims, including a lack of records showing customer transactions or account access details typically associated with such services.
The EFCC maintained that its investigation revealed the suspect was involved in internet fraud activities, particularly romance scams and identity theft. According to the Commission, he allegedly used fictitious social media accounts to communicate with foreign victims and conceal his true identity.
Investigators also disputed the defendant’s claim that he received only $4,000 from Elizabeth, stating that conversations and financial records recovered from his devices suggested the amount was significantly higher.
James was arraigned before the court on January 30, 2026, on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and related fraud offences. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the conclusion of the witness’s testimony and cross-examination, Justice Oyetenu adjourned the matter until September 22 and 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
