A Federal High Court, Lagos, today, acceeded to the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for the remand of a Nigerian, Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi, who is being indicted in the United States of America (USA) for alleged of email compromise, aiding and abetting of wire fraud and Wire fraud of $1,2452,585.97 million USD.
The court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, remanded the fraud suspect, sequel to an application pursuant to Extradition Act (Cap. E25) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which was moved by a lawyer from the AGF’s office.
The defendant was arrested by the Interpol Department of the Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, at the directives of the Nigeria’s Inspection-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun.
The defendant, is indictment in criminal case No: 3:21-00276 filed on November 15, 2021 by the Grand Jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division United States of America, signed by A True Bil, Foreperson, and it is certified and attested with the seal of Court by the Clerk and certified by Deputy Clerk U.S District Court of Middle District of Tennessee and signed by Mork H. Wildasin, Acting United States Attorney and Taylor J. Philips .
He was alleged to have caused a firm to change its payment information for at least eight transactions resulting in the fraudulent transfer of approximately $1,2452,585.97 million.
In urging the court to remand the defendant, the AGF’s lawyer told the court that the remand order requested was for pending the hearing and the determination of the Extradition suit filed against the suspect.
Counsel to the defendant, Barrister W. Liadi did not opposed the remand application. But prayed the court for a shortest date to enable him file his responses to the Extradition suit.
Consequently, Justice Aluko ordered that the fraud suspect be remanded at the facility of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the hearing and determination of the Extradition suit.
Thereafter, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to January 21, 2025, for the hearing of the Extradition application.
Parts of AGF’s aveerments in the affidavit in support of the application to by one Ekeanyanwu Oluchi Angela, of the Central Authority Unit, International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, Office of the AGF/Minister of Justice reads: “That the United States of America made a request to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for the arrest and extradition of LAWRENCE OLANRENWAJU FOLAWUNMI with accompanying documents attached.
“That he is satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the United States of America such that, so long as Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi has not had reasonable opportunity of remaining in Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried in that country for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.
“That he is satisfied that the offences in respect of which Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi’s surrender is sought are not offences of a political character. And that he is satisfied that the request for the surrender of Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi was not made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing him on account of his race, religion, nationality, or political opinions and that the said request was made in good faith and in the interest of justice.
“That lawrence olanrenwaju folawunmi, if surrendered, will not be prejudiced at his trial, and he will not be punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty, by reason of his race, nationality or political opinions.
“That he is satisfied that the offences for which Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi’s surrender is sought one not trivial in nature or that having regard to all the circumstances in which the offences were committed. It will not be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment, to surrender him.
“That he is satisfied that Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi has been accused of the offences for which the surrender is sought. And that there is no criminal proceeding pending against Lawrence Olanrenwaju Folawunmi in Nigeria for the offence for which his surrender is sought.”
