Sierra Leonean Man Faces Charges Over $190,324 Property Scam in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged a Sierra Leonean named Favour Kamara. He is accused of misusing $190,324 that a 70-year-old woman sent to buy and fix a property in Lagos.

Mr Kamara appeared in the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday. He faces charges of theft and fraud. The EFCC shared this information in a statement with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

According to the EFCC, the woman, Henrietta Vandi, lives in the United States and met Mr Kamara during her visit to the Synagogue Church of All Nations between 2019 and 2020.

The statement says that Mr Kamara encouraged Ms Vandi to invest in Nigeria. She then sent money through Ria, Western Union, MoneyGram, and cash transfers into Mr Kamara’s Access Bank account.

The funds were meant to buy and renovate a property at 30 Gbenga Ogunleye/Atobatele Street, Cele Bus Stop, Araromi, Alimosho, Lagos. The EFCC claims that Mr Kamara bought the property in his name and lived there, collecting rent from tenants.

One of the charges states that he used $190,324 that belonged to Ms Vandi for his personal use between August 2021 and February 2025. This charge refers to sections 278(1)(b) and 285(9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Mr Kamara pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, asked the court to set a trial date and keep Mr Kamara in a correctional facility.

In response, the trial judge, O. A. Okunuga, postponed the case until 29 October. The judge ordered that Mr Kamara be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

Mr Kamara is considered innocent until proven guilty.