Council Chairman Jailed Five Years in U.S. Over $3.5 Million Romance Fraud Scheme

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, the Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, has been sentenced to five years in a United States federal prison for his role in a romance fraud scheme that defrauded multiple victims of more than $3.5 million.

The sentence was handed down by a U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, marking the latest development in a case that has drawn attention in both Nigeria and the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Nwadialo was convicted for orchestrating an online romance scam that targeted victims through dating platforms and other online channels.

Federal prosecutors said the scheme involved creating false identities and cultivating romantic relationships with victims before persuading them to send large sums of money under various pretences. Authorities estimated that eight victims lost more than $3.5 million as a result of the operation.

Nwadialo was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in November 2024 after arriving at an airport in Texas from Nigeria. He had previously been indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Washington.

Investigators alleged that Nwadialo used various aliases online, including identities that portrayed him as a military officer working overseas. Prosecutors said he convinced victims to transfer money for purported legal fees, business opportunities, emergencies and other fabricated expenses.

The case gained prominence in Nigeria after it emerged that Nwadialo had been elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area shortly before his arrest. His detention prompted reactions from Anambra State officials, who distanced the state government from the allegations and emphasized that the matter was being handled by U.S. authorities.

Romance fraud has become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide, with scammers exploiting online relationships to gain the trust of victims before requesting money. U.S. authorities say such schemes often result in severe financial and emotional harm to victims and frequently involve international criminal networks.

With the sentencing now concluded, Nwadialo is expected to serve his prison term in the United States, bringing to a close a case that spanned several years, multiple jurisdictions and millions of dollars in losses.