The Anambra State government is currently weighing the possibility of replacing Franklin Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, following his arrest by the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged involvement in a massive romance scam.
Nwadialo, who was apprehended upon his arrival at an airport in Texas, faces serious charges related to a multi-million-dollar romance fraud operation. The arrest followed an indictment in December 2023 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, where he is facing 14 counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Nwadialo allegedly deceived multiple victims, scamming them out of nearly $2 million by pretending to be a U.S. military officer involved in a romantic relationship with his targets.
The accused was traveling from Nigeria when he was detained by the authorities. After his arrest, Nwadialo is set to be transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment and further legal proceedings.
In response to the scandal, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr. Law Mefor, stated that the state government has no intention of defending the charges against Nwadialo and would refrain from commenting on the ongoing case. Nwadialo’s arrest has sparked considerable concern within the state, especially considering his recent election as the executive chairman of Ogbaru local government.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Governor Charles Soludo is deeply dissatisfied with the arrest and is already considering measures to replace Nwadialo with his deputy. The state government has expressed its disapproval, and if the allegations against Nwadialo are proven true, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Tessa M. Gorman, issued a statement acknowledging the challenges in prosecuting individuals involved in international romance scams. Gorman highlighted the difficulty of bringing overseas suspects to justice, as they are often unreachable by U.S. law enforcement. She praised the diligent work of the investigators who were able to track down and apprehend Nwadialo, bringing him closer to facing justice.
The criminal complaint filed in this case indicates that Nwadialo’s scam may have been far more extensive than initially thought, with victims losing a total of over $3.3 million. He reportedly used various aliases, including the name “Giovanni,” and created fake profiles on dating platforms like Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Nwadialo allegedly told victims that he was a U.S. military officer stationed abroad, which prevented him from meeting them in person. This elaborate ruse, designed to build trust and emotional connections, is said to have enabled him to manipulate and defraud his victims over a period of time.
The unfolding case has raised serious questions about the reach of romance scams, and Nwadialo’s arrest is seen as a significant step in holding perpetrators of such crimes accountable, especially those operating from overseas. The outcome of this case could have broad implications for how international romance fraud is prosecuted and prevented in the future.
