By our Reporter
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Lawrence Folawunmi, a Nigerian wanted by authorities in the United States over alleged email compromise and wire fraud involving about $1.24 million.
Justice Akintayo Aluko granted the request of the Attorney General of the Federation to remand Folawunmi pending the determination of extradition proceedings instituted against him under the Extradition Act.
The application was moved by counsel from the AGF’s office.
Folawunmi was arrested by operatives of the Interpol Unit, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos, on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Court documents showed that Folawunmi is listed in criminal case number 3:21 00276, filed on November 15, 2021, by a grand jury at 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, with approvals from Acting United States Attorney Mark H Wildasin and Taylor J Phillips.
US authorities alleged that Folawunmi fraudulently induced a company to alter its payment details in at least eight transactions, resulting in the unlawful transfer of about $1.24 million.
Counsel from the AGF’s office told the court that the remand was necessary while the extradition application is heard and determined. Defence counsel, W Liadi, did not oppose the application but sought a short adjournment to enable him file responses to the extradition suit.
In his ruling, Justice Aluko ordered that Folawunmi be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and adjourned the case to January 21, 2025, for hearing of the extradition application.
An affidavit filed by the Federal Government stated that the US formally requested Folawunmi’s arrest and extradition, assuring the court that the offences are not political, discriminatory, or trivial, and that he would receive a fair trial if extradited.
