A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has sentenced Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley to seven years in prison for obtaining $205,238 from an American woman, Nicole Kierulff Sayers, through false pretences.

Justice U.P. Kekemeke handed down the conviction on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court sentenced him to seven years on each of two counts, with the terms running concurrently at Kuje Correctional Centre. He was also ordered to refund the entire $205,238 to Sayers, with no option of a fine.

Sayers, an American lawyer from Oregon, told the court that Kingsley initially contacted her on Facebook on her birthday and claimed they belonged to the same spiritual organisation.

She said their conversations eventually became romantic, which made her trust him. According to her, Kingsley later claimed he needed money to facilitate a government contract and allegedly told her that some men were threatening his life because he had not raised the required funds.

Sayers said she first sent him $15,000 after he promised to repay it within 45 days. She later travelled to Abuja in March 2022 and stayed with him for about two weeks.

According to her testimony, Kingsley continued asking for money for alleged contract expenses, medical emergencies, surgeries, malaria treatment and other needs. She said she made more than 125 transactions, transferring over $200,000 within about a year.

The court ultimately convicted him and ordered him to serve the concurrent seven-year prison sentence.