Anambra council chairman arrested in US over $3.3m romance scam

Anambra council chairman arrested in US over $3.3m romance scam 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Franklin Nwadial, a newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State in Texas, United States (US), for allegedly running a $3.3 million romance scam.

The US Department of Justice said in a statement that Nwadialo is facing a charge of 14 counts and risks a 20-year sentence if found guilty.

The FBI reportedly arrested the 40-year-old LGA chairman on arrival in Texas.

“According to the indictment, Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni’ when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café,” the statement read.

“Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person.”

Meanwhile, Newstrends reports that the Anambra State Government has given reasons why it cannot speak on the development.

In a report by The Nation, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr Law Mefor,was quoted as saying, “He was chosen by his people and the political party he belongs. He’s not an appointee of Soludo, therefore I cannot speak for his conduct.”