Anambra Government Distances Itself From Arrest of Ogbaru LGA Chairman Franklin Nwadialo For Alleged €3.07 Million Romance Scam

The Anambra State government has formally distanced itself from the case of Franklin Okechukwu Nwadialo, the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, who was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last week in Texas. Nwadialo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), faces allegations of orchestrating a €3.07 million romance scam targeting vulnerable women online. The Department of Justice confirmed that Nwadialo, who had been on the U.S. wanted list, was taken into custody upon arrival in Texas and faces a 14-count charge, carrying a potential 20-year sentence if convicted.

The Department of Justice revealed that Nwadialo allegedly used fake profiles under the name “Giovanni” on platforms such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café, posing as a military officer deployed overseas. According to the indictment, Nwadialo’s fraudulent schemes included fabricated fines, family emergencies, and investment offers, which ultimately led to significant financial losses for multiple victims.

“In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim and asked her to help pay the €139,698.30 fine. That victim alone was defrauded of at least €2.24 million,” the statement detailed.

The Department also cited incidents from 2019 to 2020 where Nwadialo manipulated victims into transferring funds to accounts he controlled, purportedly to aid with his father’s funeral or to invest in a cryptocurrency account. These accounts, the Department claimed, were exclusively under his control.

In response to the allegations, Anambra’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr. Law Mefor, clarified on Saturday that the state government does not endorse Nwadialo’s actions, emphasizing that he is not an appointee of Governor Chukwuma Soludo. According to Mefor, Nwadialo’s election as LGA chairman makes him accountable only to his constituents and political party.

“Nwadialo was chosen by his people and his political party,” Mefor explained, underscoring that the local government autonomy means Nwadialo does not report to the state government. “Those who elected him should answer any questions regarding his conduct. Autonomy has come now, and I only speak for the state government,” he concluded.

The Anambra State government’s response comes amid heightened scrutiny, as residents and officials express concerns about the impact of the case on the reputation of Ogbaru LGA and the integrity of local government leadership.