FBI Arrests Nigerian Businessman Uchenna Nwadavid Over Alleged $2.5M Internet Fraud Scheme
In a stunning development that underscores the continued transnational reach of cybercrime, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a prominent Nigerian businessman, Uchenna Charles Nwadavid, over his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar internet fraud scheme that defrauded numerous American citizens. The operation, which authorities say lasted from 2016 to 2019, is said to have earned the accused over $2.5 million through a web of deceit involving romance scams, cryptocurrency laundering, and cross-border financial manipulation.
Uchenna Nwadavid, a 34-year-old Abuja-based entrepreneur known for his construction firm Nec Bullion Concept and his philanthropy under the Nec Bullion Foundation, was apprehended on April 7, 2025, as he arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport from London. According to court records accessed by Peoples Gazette, Nwadavid appeared unaware that a U.S. grand jury had indicted him over a year prior, culminating in his arrest the moment he touched down on American soil.
The dramatic arrest has sent ripples through both Nigerian and American communities, prompting discussions about the evolving nature of internet fraud, the role of social engineering in scamming, and the seeming sophistication of certain fraud networks emerging from West Africa.
The indictment against Nwadavid, filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, outlines a complex scheme in which the accused allegedly engaged in online romance scams targeting emotionally vulnerable women across various states—including Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, and Kansas. These victims were reportedly lured into trusting online personas created by Nwadavid and his co-conspirators, ultimately being manipulated into moving money across international borders under false pretenses.
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The indictment further states that Nwadavid used the victims not only for financial gain but also as unsuspecting conduits—often referred to as “money mules”—to launder illicit funds. The victims, believing they were helping their supposed romantic partners or assisting with urgent business transactions, sent money into accounts controlled or influenced by the accused.
Investigators were able to track a significant portion of the defrauded funds to cryptocurrency wallets allegedly belonging to Nwadavid. Digital forensics experts highlighted that the accused converted large amounts of stolen money into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in a bid to obscure the paper trail. According to the FBI, over $2.5 million flowed through these wallets during the period under investigation.
Upon his arrest at Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Nwadavid was taken into federal custody and arraigned before a judge in Northern Texas the following day, April 8. His legal counsel has requested that he be allowed to remain in Texas, but federal prosecutors insist that his trial be held in Massachusetts, where several of the victims reside and where the case was originally filed. A date for the full trial has not yet been confirmed.
Court documents reveal that the U.S. authorities had obtained a sealed indictment against Nwadavid on January 23, 2024. It remained under seal to facilitate his quiet apprehension upon entering U.S. jurisdiction.
The FBI, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, and international law enforcement partners, had been building the case for years. His arrest marks a significant milestone in efforts to clamp down on cybercrime involving Nigerian nationals operating under the guise of business or nonprofit ventures.
Nec Bullion Concept, the construction company owned by Nwadavid, was ostensibly a legitimate business that handled several building contracts in Abuja and the southeastern parts of Nigeria. His philanthropic arm, the Nec Bullion Foundation, co-founded with his brother, Emmanuel Chijioke Nwadavid—a rising politician in Abia State—was involved in several community outreach programs including youth empowerment, small business loans, and educational scholarships.
However, investigators suspect that both the company and the foundation may have served dual purposes, not only as a façade for laundering illicit funds but also as channels through which fraudulent money could be cleaned and integrated into the legitimate economy.
According to U.S. prosecutors, financial records show suspicious inflows into Nec Bullion’s corporate accounts that did not correlate with known contracts or disclosed sources of income. These transactions were reportedly timed closely with dates when victims transferred funds.
Several of the victims, whose testimonies were instrumental in securing the indictment, recounted harrowing experiences of emotional and financial ruin. One woman from Florida described how she was convinced she was helping her online fiancé complete a real estate transaction in Africa. She ended up sending over $150,000 of her retirement savings, only to discover later that she had been duped.
Another victim from New Jersey told the grand jury that she became involved in what she believed was a genuine romantic relationship with a Nigerian businessman who claimed to be widowed. She recounted how he claimed to be dealing with customs issues and needed emergency funds to retrieve inherited property. She ended up wiring over $90,000 to multiple accounts, including some linked to cryptocurrency wallets.
“These are not just crimes of theft; they are crimes of deep emotional manipulation,” one U.S. official stated. “Victims are left financially devastated and psychologically broken.”
Nwadavid’s case mirrors a broader trend of Nigerian nationals being implicated in large-scale internet fraud cases in the United States. Just five months prior, another Nigerian—Franklin Nwadialo—who was serving as a local government chairman in Anambra State at the time of his arrest, was apprehended in Houston for a similar internet fraud scheme that reportedly netted over $3 million. He has since been transferred to Seattle to face trial.
According to U.S. authorities, these arrests are part of a larger crackdown on romance and business email compromise (BEC) scams that have cost American citizens billions of dollars over the past decade. A 2023 FBI Internet Crime Report showed that Americans lost over $10 billion to various forms of cyber fraud, with romance scams and BEC scams ranking among the most damaging.
Many of these scams originate from Nigeria, or involve Nigerian nationals who exploit online platforms, including dating websites and social media, to identify and prey on vulnerable individuals. These scammers often pose as wealthy businessmen, diplomats, or military personnel needing urgent financial help.
Nwadavid’s arrest has not gone unnoticed in Nigeria, where media outlets have picked up the story and social commentators have begun weighing in on the implications for the country’s image abroad. There is concern that such high-profile cases may further stereotype Nigerians in the international community, particularly in financial and diplomatic circles.
“This is a wake-up call for the Nigerian government and for us as a people,” said one legal analyst based in Lagos. “We need stronger oversight mechanisms and international cooperation to root out cybercrime. Our image is at stake.”
The Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., has not yet issued a statement regarding Nwadavid’s arrest, and it remains unclear whether they will provide consular support or legal assistance.
If convicted on all counts, Nwadavid faces up to 40 years in federal prison. He has been charged with multiple offenses including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. Legal experts note that the involvement of cryptocurrency in laundering the stolen funds adds another layer of complexity to the case.
His legal team is expected to file motions challenging the admissibility of certain digital evidence and may attempt to negotiate a plea deal. However, U.S. prosecutors appear confident in their case, given the volume of documentary and testimonial evidence.
The arrest and prosecution of Uchenna Nwadavid should serve as a cautionary tale for both aspiring entrepreneurs and unsuspecting online users. In a digital age where identities are easily manufactured and financial systems are increasingly decentralized, the need for vigilance is paramount.
While not all Nigerian businessmen are involved in fraud—as many operate successful and legitimate ventures—cases like this tarnish the reputations of countless honest entrepreneurs. It also raises questions about the regulatory landscape in Nigeria and whether enough is being done to scrutinize the sources of wealth among the country’s elite.
As Uchenna Charles Nwadavid awaits trial in the United States, the international community watches closely. His case, layered with elements of deceit, digital sophistication, and social manipulation, underscores the evolving nature of 21st-century crime. It also presents an opportunity for deeper cooperation between Nigeria and the U.S. in tackling cybercrime at its root.
For now, the fate of a man once celebrated as a philanthropist and business mogul hangs in the balance—caught between a life of alleged deceit and the full weight of the American justice system.