Jailed internet fraud billionaire, Chima Nkwocha.
By Tayo Odunlami
A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced an internet fraud billionaire, Chima Nkwocha, a.k.a “Young Billionaire,” to two years in prison.
Nkwocha was found guilty of cheating by impersonation and money laundering.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s belongings to the Federal Government of Nigeria, describing them as proceeds of crime.
Periscope International reports that Nkwocha was arrested and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on cheating by impersonation and money laundering.
One of the counts read: “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 [email protected] and [email protected] with intent to defraud…
“Fraudulently obtained 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.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Lanre Adeola Olariwaju, reviewed the case against Nkwocha and prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
According to Olariwaju, the convict was arrested in August 2024 at the Lugbe Area of Abuja following intelligence received by the EFCC’s Advanced Fee Fraud Section.
