URGENT!!!US citizen can they be arrested in Nigeria for failure to pay

I am unsure if this is a scam or not.I am unsure because everything I have asked this person I cannot find them in the scammer datatbases.I even spoke to a friend of his in the US who says he is trustworthy and has known him for 6-7 years.I could go on but my question is more about his situation.He is currently in Nigeria Llorin,Kwara State to be exact and was robbedof all the cash he had with him. He owes a material bill for art sculptures and this client had him arrested for failure to pay bill.He got an attorney that bailed him out and is now due back in court this Friday where if he cannot pay he goes to jail. I have names of the DPO and attorney and their numbers.But I have a hard time understanding them.He's asking for my help and if i cannot help him with money what will happen to him there?How long would he spend in jail?What are his options if this is even a true account of what happened there??????Someone please respond asap

How do you know him?

It is almost always a scam there.

We met on myspace

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I would be almost certain it is a scam--we see these stories very often. Especially out of Nigeria.

So is this a possible scenerio and if it is how long would they keep someone in jail for failure to pay??

I think you are being scammed to get you to send money!!

Hi your story sounds familiar to mine. Can you share this persons link on myspace? Did this person contact you on myspace?

yes i did meet him on myspace.His friend id is Innocent Roy 37 year old male from New York. Updated information on Roy's situation is he has had court adjourned until next week again and has now gotten typhiod fever and is in the hospital.He hasent asked for money yet after telling him I just don't have it but I'm sure he will eventually.I believe now this person is scamming me.

Go to yahoo groups romance scams.com and read stories of scams and view pictures of known scammers.It will be an incedible tool for information if you suspect fraud.

have you been talking to him on the phone????? does he have an accent????