The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended a suspected billionaire internet fraudster, Hyginus Nkwocha, in Abuja.
Nkwocha, 35, was arrested on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Ever Green Estate, behind Millennium Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.
The arrest follows intelligence reports linking him to a series of internet fraud and money laundering activities.
A statement issued by the EFCC on Friday said operatives, acting on credible information, swooped in on Nkwocha’s residence, where they uncovered an array of luxury items allegedly acquired through fraudulent means.
The items seized from the suspect include $2,200 in cash, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a MacBook, and various gold jewelry pieces, including a gold chain and pendant, a gold bracelet, and a gold neck chain.
In addition to the luxury gadgets and jewelry, the EFCC also impounded three high-end vehicles: a Mercedes Benz ML 350, a Chevrolet Camaro, and a Mustang. Further investigations revealed that Nkwocha owned several properties across Nigeria, including units in Cookies Court 2 at Ocean Palm Estate in Ajah, Lagos, and a property at Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja.
The EFCC has stated that investigations into Nkwocha’s activities are ongoing. The commission believes that Nkwocha is a key player in a sophisticated network of internet fraudsters who have defrauded individuals and businesses of substantial amounts of money both within and outside Nigeria.
Upon the completion of the investigation, Nkwocha is expected to be charged in court for internet fraud and money laundering.
“The EFCC is committed to bringing all perpetrators of financial crimes to justice,” an EFCC spokesperson said. “This arrest is part of our broader strategy to dismantle organized internet fraud networks in Nigeria.”
In a related development, the EFCC’s Abuja Zonal Directorate secured the conviction of four internet fraudsters on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
The convicts, identified as Abdulrashid Umar, Ekemini Godwin, Anozie Emmanuel, and Freedom John, were sentenced by Justice M. Adamu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama.
The convicts faced separate one-count charges of obtaining money by false pretense. Each of them had impersonated foreign nationals on social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims. For instance, Godwin posed as Ryan Williams, a U.S. citizen, on Facebook, successfully swindling $520 from a resident of Pennsylvania, while Emmanuel pretended to be a recovery agent named “Scammerpayback” on Facebook, defrauding $300 from a Kyrgyzstan national.
When the charges were read in court, all four accused individuals pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, S.N. Robert, to request their immediate conviction and sentencing.
Justice Adamu handed down varying sentences to the convicts based on the severity of their offenses. Umar received a one-year prison term or an option of a ₦300,000 fine. Godwin, Emmanuel, and John were each sentenced to two years in prison.
However, they were given the option of paying fines in place of imprisonment: ₦800,000 for Godwin, ₦300,000 for Emmanuel, and ₦400,000 for John.
