The Anambra State Government has responded to the recent arrest of Ogbaru Local Government Chairman, Franklin Nwadialo, who faces charges of an alleged internet romance scam, commonly referred to in Nigeria as “Yahoo.”
Nwadialo was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Texas, United States, and is accused of orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of $3.3 million. If convicted in a U.S. court, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
In an interview with The Nation on Saturday, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr. Law Mefor, clarified the state government’s stance on the matter. He stated that Nwadialo is not an appointee of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, emphasizing that he was elected by the people of Ogbaru under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). As such, Mefor indicated that the responsibility of addressing Nwadialo’s alleged misconduct lies with his constituents and the political party, rather than the state government.
Dr. Mefor highlighted that local governments in Anambra enjoy autonomy, which means the state government does not have direct oversight or control over local council officials.
“He was chosen by his people and the political party he belongs to. He’s not an appointee of Governor Soludo, so I cannot speak on his conduct,” Mefor said, according to The Nation. He added that with the autonomy in place, matters concerning the chairman’s actions fall within the remit of those who elected him.
This response from the Anambra State Government reflects a clear delineation of responsibility between the state and local government levels, especially in light of the controversial case involving Nwadialo.
