The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the trial of Wawe Eseoghene Nelson, also known as James Andrew Shmit and Philip Bradley, before Justice Aliyu Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
Nelson, who was arraigned on February 11, 2025, is facing an 11-count charge of advance fee fraud, impersonation, conspiracy, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
He allegedly defrauded two U.S. victims, Kathleen Sharp and Holly Stamm, of a total of $968,000.
During the court session, the EFCC presented its first prosecution witness, Kathleen Sharp. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Maryam Aminu Ahmed, Sharp recounted how Nelson, using a fake identity, deceived her into sending large sums of money under the guise of financing an engineering project.
According to her testimony, Nelson contacted her via social media, claiming to be a petroleum engineer working with BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
He convinced her to send funds, promising repayment once the project yielded profits.
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“I was contacted by the EFCC and informed that I had been defrauded by someone using the identity of James Andrew Shmit. He told me he had no access to his personal funds and needed financial support for a petroleum project,” Sharp told the court.
She detailed how she wired a total of $183,000 to him in three installments:
– $45,500 via a certified cheque
– $131,000 through a wire transfer
– $7,000 through another wire transfer
Sharp added that Nelson later pressured her for an additional $10,000, which she refused to send. She described the man in the profile picture he used as having brown hair and appearing to be Caucasian.
The EFCC alleges that Nelson also used the alias Philip Bradley to defraud Holly Stamm of $120,000 via Bitcoin transactions.
Nelson pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Justice Halilu adjourned the case to April 16, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness.
