Abuja, Nigeria – Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, also known as “Young Billionaire,” has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja for impersonation and money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction after Nkwocha was found guilty of defrauding an American citizen, Linda Wheeler, out of $345,000.
Nkwocha, who was arrested in August 2024 in the Lugbe area of Abuja, used fraudulent identities—such as Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt—on Gmail and Google Voice to carry out the scam. The defendant received the funds through a Zenith Bank account under Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd., which he controlled.
Following his arrest, the EFCC recovered several assets from Nkwocha, including:
$2,200 in cash
N90,280,934 in a Zenith Bank account
A Mercedes Benz ML 350
Gold jewelry, including two necklaces and a bracelet
Properties in Lagos and Abuja, including a three-bedroom terrace duplex and a bungalow
Land in Lekki, Lagos, and other valuable items
In court, Nkwocha admitted to the charges, and no objections were raised to the evidence presented by the EFCC. The court convicted him to two years imprisonment with an option of a N2,000,000 fine. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of his ill-gotten assets, declaring them proceeds of crime.
The conviction is a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against financial crimes. However, the ruling can still be appealed by any aggrieved party.
