FBI Offers $5,000 Reward for Nigerian Woman Wanted in US

Emuobosan Emanuella Hall was sentenced to eight years for her role in a romance fraud scheme but allegedly failed to report to prison in March 2026

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Nigerian woman Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, who allegedly failed to report to a United States federal prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her role in a romance scam.

Also read: BREAKING: ADC Governorship Candidate Escapes Gun Attack on Convoy in Sokoto

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

The FBI added her to its wanted persons list on Friday, stating that she was wanted for violating her bond conditions by failing to surrender for the commencement of her sentence.

“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Emuobosan Emanuella Hall,” the agency said.

According to the FBI, Hall was initially charged in April 2024 over her alleged involvement in a romance fraud scheme in which funds obtained from multiple victims were laundered.

She was arrested in Georgia and subsequently released on bond. After pleading guilty, she was sentenced in January 2026 and ordered to report to a federal correctional facility in Minnesota.

However, the agency said she failed to appear at the designated facility in March 2026, prompting the issuance of a federal arrest warrant on March 31 by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.

She was subsequently charged by criminal complaint on April 14 with failure to appear for service of a sentence and indicted on October 23.

The FBI said Hall was born in Nigeria and has links to Warri, Oleh and Abuja. Her reported connections also include London, Gloucester and Croydon in England, as well as Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

She is also known by the aliases Emuobosan E. Hall, Emuobosan Emanuella Erih and “Mobo”.

Details released by the US Department of Justice on Wednesday indicated that members of the fraud network contacted victims through social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

They allegedly posed as military generals, philanthropists or entrepreneurs living outside the United States before developing romantic relationships with their targets.

After gaining their trust, the suspects persuaded victims to transfer money under various false pretences, including claims that the funds were needed for charitable activities or the medical needs of sick relatives.

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

Hall deposited money obtained from victims into accounts held in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including foreign banks.

She admitted responsibility for losses totalling $851,207, while Akpieyi was held responsible for losses exceeding $3.5 million.

Akpieyi was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2025 for his role in the scheme.

The FBI further disclosed that Hall’s last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, based on information from her electronic monitoring device, which stopped transmitting at the airport.

She 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.

If convicted of the additional failure-to-report charge, Hall faces up to 10 years in prison, which would run consecutively to her existing sentence. She could also face a fine of up to $250,000.

Also read: Anambra Aunt Arrested Over Alleged Abuse of 10-Year-Old Girl

The FBI has urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the agency through its 1-800-CALL-FBI line or submit a tip through its official website.