FBI: Ex-diplomat's spouse targeted in sex shakedown scheme

JANUARY 18--In a brazen shakedown scheme targeting the husband of a former Nigerian foreign minister, a Maryland woman extorted $185,000 in hush money from the man by threatening to go public with details of their sexual affair, federal investigators charge. Queen Nwoye, a 28-year-old nurse, was accused in an indictment filed today in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. of extorting Ikemba Iweala, a 59-year-old neurosurgeon who is married to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who until last August was Nigeria's finance minister. Prior to that appointment, the Harvard-educated diplomat worked for three years as the African country's finance minister.

Okonjo-Iweala, 52, is currently a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution. An FBI affidavit--a copy of which you'll find below--details the alleged extortion plot, which began early last year when Dr. Iweala, who works at Washington's Providence Hospital, received a call from Nwoye.

According to FBI Agent William Ronacher, Iweala, pictured at right, acknowledged having a year-long affair with Nwoye in 2002-3, adding that they remained "social friends" after their "intimate relationship" ended. In a February 2006 phone conversation, Nwoye asked Iweala to speak with her cousin, whom she identified as "Ernest Ufondu."

In a series of subsequent phone calls spanning two months, "Ufondu" repeatedly demanded money from Iweala in return for his and Nwoye's silence. In fact, "Ufondu" was actually Nwoye's boyfriend Adriane Osuagwu. Iweala initially agreed to make two $20,000 payments. A week after delivering the second installment (which he turned over to Nwoye in cash in the Providence Hospital parking lot), Iweala received a call form his ex-lover.

She "told him that she had not had sex in a while and that she wanted to see him," according to the FBI affidavit. Amazingly, Dr. Iweala agreed to a rendezvous with his extorter later that evening. The pair, in Nwoye's car, drove to a secluded area of the hospital parking lot and disrobed. As they "were engaged in sex, or about to engage in sex," an unknown man approached the auto and began taking photos of the naked duo.

Not surprisingly, the brain surgeon immediately began receiving new demands from Osuagwu, who told him, "What happened tonight? That was a terrible mistake. Now I have the photos. You have to pay money to stop all these things." Iweala paid an additional $145,000 before contacting authorities about the scheme.

In subsequent phone conversations monitored by the FBI, Nwoye told Iweala the explicit photos "would not go anywhere without her support" and claimed that all the money she received was forwarded to "Ufondu." Nwoye, charged with a felony count of conspiracy to commit extortion, is free on a personal recognizance bond and scheduled for a February 15 federal court appearance. (5 pages)

Details and copy of affidavit at
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0118073nigeria1.html?

Robot  Villager

# 1 Not Your Everyday Nigerian Money Scam FBI...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.01.2007 13:43

planet1899  Villager

# 2 While his wife serve-th her country-th his engage-th in sex-th with a nurse half his age-th...this is what I can a faithful husband..... What a shame. Posted by planet1899| 19.01.2007 13:55

Anon  Villager

# 3 We've been wondering how long it would take this story to reach NVS, it's been brewing for awhile. Na wa for WAEC. This was disaster waiting to happen and I guess something had to give. It was either oga quit his job and joined madam in Nigeria or madam refused the job and remained with Oga in Maryland, But to be doing commuter relationship esspecially when both have very busy high profile careers for 3yrs was a disaster to begin with. :wink: I can't help but feel sad for Ngozi though. She appears to have sacrificed a whole lot for this her 3yr ministerial position. Posted by Anon| 19.01.2007 14:07

planet1899  Villager

# 4 Woudl he not have engaged in this act if his wife was with him in DC? Do men who cheat on their wives always do so because their wives are not living with them? Some men cheat on their wives while she is next door to them in the next bedroom. Posted by planet1899| 19.01.2007 14:14

tonsoyo  Villager

# 5 Ah that girl Nwoye wicked well well o, haba. I think oga started this business before madam took the minister job. She started in July 2003, oga started this monkey business in 2002. Na wa o. Let who is not guilty one way or the other cast the first stone. That extortionist and the boyfriend should go to jail quick, quick. I think oga too has learnt a bitter lesson from this, that it is good to be faithful. Posted by tonsoyo| 19.01.2007 14:28

Big-K  Villager

# 6 I'm having a fit looking at Oga's picture and imagining him in his underpants at the parking lot with the photographer in his face. :):D Even if we excuse the first round of blackmail, why did Ikemba take up Queen's fresh offer of sex after the first $40,000? Na so the thing sweet reach? Anyway... Posted by Big-K| 19.01.2007 14:37

Anon  Villager

# 7 I'm having a fit looking at Oga's picture and imagining him in his underpants at the parking lot with the photographer in his face. :):D Even if we excuse the first round of blackmail, why did Ikemba take up Queen's fresh offer of sex after the first $40,000? No so the thing sweet reach? Big K, that was the first thing my wife said when we heard this story late last year... but I no fit laugh because wifey was actually in a fit over the whole issue. We had just hoped the news hounds would not get to it.... As to when the whole thing started there are a lot of contradictions with regards the dates we have heard. This is yet another one. Anyway make I comot for this thread before I enter trouble.:biggrin: Posted by Anon| 19.01.2007 14:40

2plus2  Villager

# 8 Woa, surreal!!! Posted by 2plus2| 19.01.2007 14:44

Abraxas  Villager

# 9 =Big-K;149899>I'm having a fit looking at Oga's picture and imagining him in his underpants at the parking lot with the photographer in his face. :):D Even if we excuse the first round of blackmail as "Man no be wood", why did Ikemba take up Queen's fresh offer of sex after the first $40,000? No so the thing sweet reach? Anyway... Hi, Big-K! ...Because man no be wood, and Queen wetin-call sweet well-well. Simple! By the way, how are we sure that Pa Ikemba (De Sexy Guy) Iweala has not been a victim of extreme congo-hoarding in his matrimonial universe? We may never know the WHOLE truth. What a pity, sha. Poor papa lolo. (O ma se-o!) Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 19.01.2007 14:49

Auspicious  Villager

# 10 =Abraxas;149906>By the way, how are we sure that Pa Ikemba (De Sexy Guy) Iweala has not been a victim of extreme congo-hoarding in his matrimonial universe? We may never know the WHOLE truth. "Congo-Hoarding"..hmm. Here we go again! Nna, na waaa! Na wa for di man wey ein wife nor gree gi am do. As Mr. T would say, "Ah pity deh fool!":lol: Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 19.01.2007 14:58

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