An Abuja High Court has sentenced Jonathan Wallang to seven years in prison for masterminding a multi-million naira fraud scheme that duped the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Cooperative Society out of a staggering ₦700 million. The verdict, delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, marks the end of a decade-long trial that has gripped Nigeria’s financial crime watchdog and corporate community.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the case, confirmed the conviction via its official X handle on Thursday, July 31, 2025. According to court records, Wallang was found guilty of multiple counts of fraud, including obtaining money under false pretenses in a series of elaborate land scams.
The case, which began in 2015, involved Wallang and three others who deceived the NLNG Cooperative Society into paying vast sums for non-existent plots of land in Abuja. In one of the fraudulent deals, Wallang collected ₦520 million for a plot he falsely claimed to own. In another, he secured ₦130 million using similar tactics. These transactions formed the basis of the EFCC’s investigation, which ultimately led to his arrest and prosecution.
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Despite pleading not guilty, Wallang was convicted after years of legal wrangling, during which two of his co-defendants passed away and another was acquitted. Justice Muazu sentenced him to seven years in prison without the option of a fine on the major charges. He also handed Wallang an additional two-year sentence with the option of a fine on lesser charges.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered Wallang to repay ₦580 million to the NLNG Cooperative as restitution for the funds fraudulently obtained. This repayment forms a critical part of efforts to recover public and cooperative resources lost to fraudulent schemes.
