Romance Scam: FBI Declares Nigerian Woman Wanted, Offers ₦6.7m Reward

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $5,000 (approximately ₦6.7 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of a Nigerian woman, Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, who disappeared after failing to report to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her involvement in a romance scam and financial fraud.

Hall, 46, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison in January 2026 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

The FBI listed her among its wanted persons, saying she violated her bond conditions by failing to surrender to the designated correctional facility to serve her sentence.

According to information released by the FBI, Hall was initially charged in April 2024 over her role in a criminal network that defrauded victims through online romantic relationships before laundering the proceeds.

Members of the syndicate reportedly approached victims through social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, posing as military generals, philanthropists and wealthy entrepreneurs living outside the United States.

After establishing romantic relationships and gaining the victims’ trust, the fraudsters allegedly persuaded them to send money under various false pretences, including claims that the funds were needed for charitable projects or medical expenses involving sick relatives.

Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, allegedly used a company identified as Le Beau Monde LLC to facilitate the operation.

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Court records indicated that Hall deposited money obtained from victims into bank accounts operated in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including foreign banks.

Hall admitted responsibility for approximately $851,207 in financial losses suffered by victims.

Her co-defendant, Akpieyi, was found responsible for losses exceeding $3.5 million. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2025 following his conviction.

Hall was arrested in Georgia after the initial charges were filed but was subsequently released on bond while the case proceeded.

In January 2026, a federal judge sentenced her to eight years in prison and directed her to surrender to a designated correctional facility in Minnesota by March 2026.

However, she failed to report as ordered.

According to the FBI, information from her electronic monitoring device showed that her last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, where the device stopped transmitting.

Hall had reportedly informed her probation officer that she intended to travel to Minnesota to begin serving her sentence. However, airline records indicated that she did not board the scheduled flight.

Following her disappearance, a federal arrest warrant was issued against her on March 31, 2026, by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.

She was subsequently charged with failure to appear for service of a sentence on April 14, 2026.

A federal grand jury indicted her on the additional charge on October 23, 2026.

The FBI identified the wanted woman as a Nigerian-born national who also uses the names Emuobosan E. Hall, Emuobosan Emanuella Erih and the nickname “Mobo”.

The agency disclosed that she has connections to Warri and Oleh in Delta State, as well as Abuja.

Her reported international connections include London, Gloucester and Croydon in England, and Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

The FBI described Hall as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 87 kilogrammes, with black hair and brown eyes. She speaks English and some Yoruba.

The agency is offering up to $5,000 for credible information that directly leads to her arrest.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts has been urged to contact the FBI through its toll-free telephone number, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit information through its official tips website at https://tips.fbi.gov.

If convicted of the additional failure-to-report offence, Hall could face up to 10 more years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release, in addition to her existing sentence.