US Court Convicts Nigerian Monarch Prof. Ngwadom for $70,000 Medicaid Fraud
Prof. Ekelekamchukwu Alphonsus Ngwadom, a Nigerian traditional ruler living in the United States, has been convicted and sentenced for medical fraud involving the Medicaid program, U.S. officials announced. The case was brought by the North Carolina Department of Justice, which prosecuted Ngwadom on 27 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses for submitting fraudulent claims to Medicaid.
According to the state’s Attorney General, Ngwadom pleaded guilty to making false claims totaling $72,014.66 to Medicaid for behavioral health services that were never provided to patients, many of whom were children. He was convicted on multiple counts after admitting that he knowingly billed the program for services that did not occur in order to collect payment.
At sentencing, the court imposed consecutive terms of 6–17 months for each count, ultimately suspending a portion of the prison time under the condition that Ngwadom serve 36 months of supervised probation. As part of his sentence, he will also spend 90 days under house arrest and was ordered to pay $72,014.66 in restitution back to Medicaid.
State officials emphasized that Medicaid fraud harms both taxpayers and vulnerable recipients who depend on the program for essential care. The conviction underscores ongoing enforcement efforts against health care fraud in the United States.
About the Author
