COURT ORDERS REMAND OF NIGERIAN WANTED IN U.S. OVER $1.24M EMAIL FRAUD
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By Aishat Momh. O.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of a Nigerian, Lawrence Folawunmi, who is wanted by authorities in the United States over allegations of email compromise, wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud involving about $1.24 million.
Justice Akintayo Aluko granted the remand request following an application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) under the Extradition Act (Cap. E25), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Folawunmi was arrested by operatives of the Interpol Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun.
According to court documents, the defendant is named in criminal case No. 3:21-00276, filed on November 15, 2021, by a grand jury of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division. The indictment was endorsed by the grand jury foreperson and certified by court officials, as well as signed by Mark H. Wildasin, Acting United States Attorney, and Taylor J. Phillips.
U.S. authorities alleged that Folawunmi fraudulently induced a firm to alter its payment details in at least eight transactions, resulting in the unlawful transfer of approximately $1.24 million.
While moving the application, counsel from the AGF’s office told the court that the remand order was necessary pending the hearing and determination of extradition proceedings instituted against the defendant.
Counsel to Folawunmi, W. Liadi, did not oppose the remand application but requested a short adjournment to enable him to respond to the extradition suit.
In his ruling, Justice Aluko ordered that Folawunmi be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the outcome of the extradition proceedings and adjourned the matter to January 21, 2025, for hearing of the extradition application.
In an affidavit filed in support of the application and deposed to by Ekeanyanwu Oluchi Angela of the Central Authority Unit, International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, Office of the AGF, the Federal Government disclosed that the United States had formally requested Folawunmi’s arrest and extradition, accompanied by the requisite documents.
The affidavit stated that the AGF was satisfied that Folawunmi would not be detained or tried in the U.S. for any offence other than those for which his extradition is sought, adding that the alleged offences are not political in nature and that the request was not made to persecute him on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political opinion.
It further assured the court that Folawunmi would not suffer prejudice at trial if extradited, would not face discriminatory treatment, and that the offences are not trivial. The Federal Government also stated that no criminal proceedings are pending against him in Nigeria in respect of the offences for which the United States is seeking his extradition.
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