A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian politician, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, to five years imprisonment for masterminding a long-running online romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million.

Nwadialo, 42, who serves as Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, was sentenced by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright in Tacoma, Washington, according to a statement released by the US Department of Justice.

While delivering judgment, the judge described the fraudulent operation as “devastating,” noting that beyond the financial losses suffered by victims, the scheme caused emotional trauma, including depression, shame and isolation from family members.

First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the convict and his associates targeted emotionally vulnerable individuals, particularly those dealing with heartbreak, divorce or the loss of loved ones.

According to prosecutors, Nwadialo operated fake identities on dating platforms including Match, Zoosk and Christian Café, often posing as a military officer identified as “Giovanni”.

Using the fake personas, he allegedly manipulated victims into sending money under false pretences, including fabricated military penalties, funeral expenses, emergencies and fraudulent investment opportunities.

Prosecutors stated that many of the victims were elderly, widowed or divorced individuals who believed they were in genuine romantic relationships.

One victim reportedly maintained an online relationship with the fake identity for three years before learning through the FBI that the entire relationship was fraudulent.

Another victim, described as a widow searching for companionship after her husband’s death, allegedly lost her home and life savings after liquidating assets to send money to the suspect.

Federal authorities said the fraud scheme operated for more than 15 years and caused severe financial and emotional damage to multiple victims.

FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo exploited vulnerable people seeking companionship online and deceived them into surrendering their life savings.

The Nigerian politician was arrested in 2024 at an airport in Texas shortly after arriving in the United States and was later indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.

A suspected internet fraudster has allegedly beheaded his girlfriend in Edjeba community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

DAILY POST learnt that the suspect used a knife to cut off the neck of his girlfriend at his apartment in Ajidi Street, Edjeba.

It was gathered that the landlord of the compound raised the alarm and called the police when he heard a loud shout from the suspect’s apartment.

The police arrived promptly, searched the apartment and found the headless body of the deceased and arrested the suspect, who is currently in custody.

The police also deposited the remains of the deceased in a morgue pending when investigation is concluded.

Residents of the area said they saw the girl the previous day when she went to the market to purchase food items to cook for her boyfriend, not knowing that he will kill her in the morning.

They noted that they used to see the two ‘lovebirds’ in the suspect’s white Lexus SUV.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a Whatsapp message sent to our correspondent in Warri.

A High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a foreign national, to death by hanging.

The sentence followed their conviction on charges bordering on terrorism and arms proliferation.

The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad (alias Sallau), a Nigerien; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad, were said to have been arrested on 13th June, 2025.

They were apprehended by the Department of State Services, DSS, Counter Terrorism Unit in connection with cross-border criminal activities bordering on arms trafficking and terrorism.

The case, marked SS/45c/2026, was presided over by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23, Sokoto.

Justice Bello, while delivering the judgment

found all three defendants guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government.

“The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by the DSS in its sustained operations against terrorism and organised cross-border criminal networks across Nigeria,” Justice Bello said.