Franklin Nwadialo, the recently elected chairperson of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) upon his arrival in Texas. The 40-year-old politician faces serious charges in connection with an alleged romance scam that defrauded multiple victims of over $3.3 million.
According to a statement released by the US Department of Justice on Tuesday, Nwadialo was detained on Saturday at a Texas airport and is set to be transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment. Investigations are being handled by the FBI, with Assistant US Attorney Sok Jiang prosecuting the case.
Details of Alleged Romance Scam Scheme
Court documents reveal that Nwadialo allegedly used fake profiles and various aliases, often adopting the name "Giovanni" on dating sites like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Posing as a military officer stationed overseas, he allegedly deceived victims by fabricating urgent situations to request financial assistance.
In one instance, Nwadialo reportedly claimed in 2020 that he had been fined $150,000 by the military for revealing his location to a victim, requesting the money under false pretenses. The victim, one of many, was ultimately defrauded of an estimated $2.4 million.
Additional Allegations and Victim Stories
The indictment outlines several cases where Nwadialo allegedly manipulated victims into transferring funds:
- In 2019, a victim reportedly sent $330,000 to accounts controlled by Nwadialo after he claimed he needed assistance transferring funds due to his father’s death.
- Another victim was persuaded to “reinvest” money in a cryptocurrency account under Nwadialo’s control, leading to a loss of $270,000.
- In August 2020, he allegedly defrauded yet another individual out of $310,000, claiming financial struggles tied to his father’s funeral and his son’s school tuition.
Nwadialo was initially indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud in December 2023. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Arrest and Statements
The Department of Justice noted that Nwadialo’s capture was a significant breakthrough, as overseas suspects in such scams are often challenging to apprehend. US Attorney Tessa M. Gorman praised the vigilance of the investigators, stating, “All too often, defendants in these romance scams are overseas and unreachable by US law enforcement.”
Political Background
Nwadialo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was elected in September 2024 alongside 20 other council chairpersons in Anambra State. He was sworn into office on October 4, marking only a month in office before his arrest in the US.
This case has sparked reactions in Nigeria, raising concerns about fraud allegations involving public officials and the integrity of recent local elections.
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