Nigerian Professor Bags 70-Month Jail Term In U.S Over $1.4m Fraud Scheme
By Ranti Thomas
A Nigerian-born professor, Nkechy Ezeh, has been sentenced in the United States to 70 months in prison after being found guilty of her role in a $1.4 million fraud case involving the misuse of funds connected to a university-linked project.
U.S. authorities said Ezeh orchestrated a scheme that diverted funds meant for legitimate academic and development purposes, using false identities and manipulated financial instructions to mislead institutions involved in the transactions.
The court heard that the fraudulent activity led to the loss of about $1.4 million, with investigators describing the operation as deliberate and carefully planned over a period of time.
Ezeh, who previously built a reputation in academic and development circles, was accused of abusing her position and trust to facilitate the movement of illicit payments through coordinated financial channels.
During trial proceedings, prosecutors detailed how the scheme involved deception and unauthorized transfer of funds meant for institutional projects, which were instead routed for personal and criminal benefit.
The judge described the offence as serious, noting that it involved a “brazen” abuse of trust and significant financial damage, before handing down the 70-month prison sentence.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the fraud, while stressing the need for accountability in cases involving cross-border financial crimes.
Authorities say the case is part of wider efforts by U.S. law enforcement to clamp down on international fraud networks targeting institutions through sophisticated email and financial manipulation schemes.
Ezeh will serve her sentence in a U.S. federal prison, followed by supervised release after completion of her jail term.