The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday tendered alleged chat messages retrieved from a suspect’s mobile phone as it opened its case against Edidiong Nsidore James, a Uyo-based man accused of defrauding a foreign woman of $41,000 in an alleged romance scam that reportedly spanned over three years.
The evidence was presented before Justice Maurine Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, by the prosecution’s first witness, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Unyime P. Moses, who detailed how forensic analysis of the defendant’s devices allegedly uncovered incriminating communications.
Testifying in court, Moses told the judge that investigators recovered extensive chat records between the defendant and a foreign victim identified as Elizabeth, a Hungarian woman, whom he allegedly referred to as “My Everything” during their online relationship.
According to the witness, the messages revealed how the defendant allegedly sustained emotional contact with the victim while repeatedly demanding money and continuing to request additional funds even after receiving significant transfers.
Moses further told the court that one of the recovered messages showed the defendant allegedly demanding further payment in exchange for refunding the victim’s money, stating: “Send me $900 if you want your money back, because if you don’t send me the $900, I won’t give you your money back.”
The witness also alleged that the defendant mocked the victim when she threatened to involve anti-graft authorities, quoting him as saying: “Did you really think the EFCC could arrest me? I remember I once told you that all this won’t help us… So, tell me, how long will it take you to stop thinking you can arrest me.”
The court heard that the victim repeatedly pleaded for repayment, expressing distress over her worsening financial condition. In one of the messages tendered as evidence, Elizabeth reportedly wrote: “At the end of August, the bailiff will take my apartment and because of you, I will be on the street with my child… I need my $41,000.”
Moses told the court that the defendant allegedly operated under false identities online, initially presenting himself as “Jessy James,” a name later discovered to be fictitious after a Bank Verification Number (BVN) verification linked him to his true identity.
She further disclosed that during investigation, she contacted the victim, who reportedly reacted angrily upon hearing the defendant’s name and severed communication with investigators, saying: “Don’t ever call me again… your entire country is as corrupt as Jessy…”
The EFCC informed the court that James was arrested on October 8, 2025, during an intelligence-driven sting operation at his residence located at Ring Road 3, off Camp Gee, Uyo.
Items recovered from him included an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Redmi 13 mobile phone, and a Lexus ES350 vehicle, which were tendered as exhibits and admitted by the court through prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin.
According to the Commission, forensic examination of the devices allegedly revealed sustained online fraud operations targeting foreign nationals, including Elizabeth, who is said to have transferred a total of $41,000 to the defendant over several years.
The EFCC further alleged that James claimed to operate a BetNaija outlet and a social media account-boosting business, but investigations reportedly found no evidence supporting those assertions.
He was first arraigned on January 30, 2026, on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following cross-examination, Justice Oyetenu adjourned the matter until September 22 and 23, 2026, for continuation of hearing.