“Young Billionaire” Hyginus Nkwocha Bags Two Years Jail Term for $345,000 Fraud and Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, popularly known as “Young Billionaire,” for impersonation and money laundering.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, sentenced Nkwocha to two years in prison with an option of a ₦2,000,000 fine.

According to Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Nkwocha was arrested in August 2024 for impersonating individuals like Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt. He used Gmail and Google Voice to defraud Linda Wheeler, an American citizen, of $345,000. Nkwocha received the naira equivalent of the money through Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd’s Zenith Bank account.

Recovered items include a black Mercedes Benz ML 350, gold jewelry, $2,200 in cash, ₦90,280,934.00 in the Ginux Global Zenith Bank account, real estate in Lagos, Abuja, and Lekki, Zenith Bank drafts, and electronic devices.

One of the charges read:
“That you, Chima Hyginus Nkwocha (AKA Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown & Chettot), in 2022 in Abuja, fraudulently impersonated Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt via Gmail and Google Voice using the email addresses [email protected] and [email protected]. You obtained $345,000 from Linda Wheeler, an American, and received the naira equivalent through Ginux Global Nigeria Limited’s Zenith Bank account, committing an offence under 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. Prosecuting counsel Lanre Adeola Olariwaju presented the case, requesting the court to convict him.

The court ordered the forfeiture of all recovered assets, deemed proceeds of crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.