Abuja young billionaire bags two years in prison for fraud, loses over ₦90m and luxury assets
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, also known as ‘Young Billionaire,’ to two years in prison for impersonation and money laundering.
The convict who was arrested in August 2024, was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining $345,000 from an American, Linda Wheeler, by impersonating multiple identities online.
Items recovered during his arrest included a black Mercedes Benz ML 350, two gold necklaces with pendants, one gold bracelet, $2,200 cash, N90,280,934.00 in the Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd Zenith Bank (account no. 1228782493), for which Nkwocha was the sole signatory.
Others are a three-bedroom terrace duplex at Cookies Court 2, 2nd Avenue, Ocean Palm Estate, Ogombo, Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos, a three-bedroom bungalow and two self-contained apartments situated on Plot B023, Standard Estate, Galadima, Abuja, and a plot of land measuring about 300 square meters at Eko Beach City, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, two Zenith Bank drafts worth N5,000,000 and N3,000,000, dated September 12, 2024, and October 17, 2024, respectively. An iPhone 13 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Nkwocha also confessed to impersonating Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt using Gmail and google voice to defraud Linda Wheeler, an American, of $345,000. He received the naira equivalent through Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd’s Zenith Bank account.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement on Wednesday said Nkwocha pleaded guility to two counts bordering on cheating by impersonation and money laundering.
Following his guilty plea, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced him to two years in prison with an option of a fine of N2,000,000.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of his luxury assets, including a black Mercedes Benz ML 350, gold jewelry and $2,200 cash, N90,280,934.00 in the Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd Zenith Bank account, properties in Lagos and Abuja, Zenith Bank drafts and electronic devices recovered from the convict.
