The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a two-year jail term for Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, also known as “Young Billionaire,” over charges of impersonation and money laundering.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the EFCC disclosed that Nkwocha’s sentencing took place on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. He was tried before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge related to cyber fraud and money laundering.
One of the charges against him stated: “That you, Chima Hyginus Nkwocha (AKA Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown & Chettot), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt on Gmail and Google Voice using the Gmail addresses frankcorbett272@gmail.com and chriressrifatt@gmail.com with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtaining a cumulative sum of Three Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($345,000) from Linda Wheeler, an American, and receiving the naira equivalent through Ginux Global Nigeria Limited with account No. 1228782493 domiciled in Zenith Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Act.”
Nkwocha pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
During the trial, EFCC prosecutor Lanre Adeola Olariwaju presented evidence and urged the court to convict Nkwocha based on his plea and the facts of the case. Olariwaju revealed that Nkwocha had been apprehended in August 2024 in Lugbe, Abuja, by the EFCC’s Advanced Fee Fraud Section following intelligence reports.
The investigation revealed that Nkwocha fraudulently impersonated several individuals and swindled Linda Wheeler, an American, of $345,000. The stolen funds were converted to naira and funneled through Ginux Global Nigeria Limited.
Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Nkwocha to two years in prison. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of all assets and funds linked to the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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