A second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Michael Eyo, in the trial of Victor Ekpong Thompson, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, presided over by Justice Maurine Onyetenu how the defendant forged his mining licence and used the document to defraud three American investors – Tammy Jenson, Kenneth Blad and Peter Jensen – to the tune of $525, 276.

Thompson was first arraigned on January 29, 2026, on eight charges bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and stealing, to which he pleaded “not guilty”.

While addressing the court, Eyo stated that he owned a mining site in the Biase Local Council of Cross River State, adding that the defendant tricked him into releasing his mining licence to him, which he allegedly photographed and used to defraud unsuspecting investors. “[He] asked me to bring the originals of my licence to verify the authenticity. Thereafter, he snapped the licence and used it to convince the investors,” he said.

Defence counsel, Madu Amamko, had earlier moved a motion for the defendant’s bail on health grounds, which the prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, opposed on the grounds that the defendant’s health was not in any danger.

After listening to the arguments canvassed by both counsel, Justice Onyetenu reserved her ruling on bail till June 8, 2026. (Extracted from a report by The Guardian)