Some names fade with time, but others, like Ezego, remain etched in history—wrapped in mystery, wealth, and controversy. Born Victor Nnamdi Okafor on December 25, 1964, in Uzoakwa, Ihiala, Anambra State, his journey was one of extremes. From a troubled youth to becoming one of the wealthiest young men in Nigeria, his life was a mix of fortune, ambition, and fate. But in the same dramatic way he rose, he also fell—leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions.

From Nothing to Everything

Victor’s early life was anything but easy. He was raised in hardship, attended Uzoakwa Primary School, and later Abbot Boys’ Secondary School, Ihiala. But school didn’t last long—he dropped out, his path already taking a different turn. His childhood struggles were so intense that his own father reportedly disowned him when he got into trouble with the law. Accused of being part of a gang that terrorized traders in Onitsha, he fled—to Umumeni, then Umuduru, his mother’s village—desperate to escape his past.
But poverty clung to him. By 1989, with nothing to his name, he made his way to Lagos. There, he found a mentor and began to navigate the world of business. And then, almost overnight, everything changed.
People whispered about Ọgwu ego. How else could a man who once had nothing suddenly command millions? Others believed he was simply a shrewd businessman, but no one could truly explain how, within a short time, Victor Okafor became Ezego—the King of Money.

A Fortune Built in Mystery

In Lagos, Ezego built an empire. He owned Ezego Shopping Complex on Allen Avenue and another in Abuja. He controlled one of Nigeria’s largest electronics stores, alongside a chain of businesses—Vic-Winners International, Ezego Nigeria Limited, Ezego Holdings Limited, Vitex Zinc Co. Limited, and Ezego Properties Limited.
With wealth came luxury. Ezego had houses in Lagos, Abuja, and Ihiala. His country home alone, built with imported Italian marble, was worth over N500 million. His real estate holdings outside Ihiala were valued at nearly half a billion naira.
And then, there were the cars. If money had a scent, it smelled like leather seats and polished chrome in Ezego’s garage. He had one of the largest private car collections in Africa. He once spent N14 million then on just two cars—a Sedan Lincoln Continental Mark 8 and a Mercedes Benz R230 convertible. His garage, filled with exotic automobiles, was worth nearly a billion naira.

Christmas Day, The Day He Couldn’t Escape

Despite his wealth, Ezego had traditions. Every Christmas, he returned to Ihiala in a grand convoy—giving generously, showing his people the power of wealth. In 1999, he planned the same. But fate had other plans.
Usually, he would fly from Lagos to Enugu, then take a convoy to Ihiala. But that year, rising air crash rates made him uneasy. He chose the road instead. It was a decision that sealed his fate.
On his way, his Jeep Cherokee broke down along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He refused to leave it behind, choosing instead to tow it with his Lexus LX 450. Near Ihiala, he hit a pothole and slammed on the brakes. The Cherokee, still tied to his car, rammed into him. Both cars tumbled into a ditch.
Ezego was badly injured but still alive. He was rushed to Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the very hospital where he had once donated N15 million. Doctors tried to save him. His family pushed for a transfer to Port Harcourt. But somewhere on that journey, on Christmas Day—his 34th birthday—Victor Nnamdi Okafor, Ezego, breathed his last.

A Legacy in Ruins

Ezego’s death unraveled everything he built. His mansions, once symbols of wealth, became shadows of their former glory. His luxury cars, once polished and admired, gathered dust. His businesses crumbled.
The controversy didn’t end there. His lawyer, Barnabas Igwe—the man responsible for executing his will—was murdered in 2002, along with his wife, Abigail. Ezego’s will was never read. No one truly knows who inherited his wealth, if anyone did at all.

The King Without a Throne

Ezego’s story isn’t just about wealth. It’s about how quickly fortunes rise and fall. About mystery, power, and the unknown forces that shape destiny.
Was he just an ambitious young man who outsmarted the system? Or was there something darker behind his success?
Even in death, Ezego remains an enigma. A name that refuses to fade. A man whose wealth was as puzzling as his demise. And a lesson that, no matter how high you rise, some things remain beyond human control.