Segun Atanda/
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of a Nigerian, Lawrence Olanrewaju Folawunmi, following an extradition request by the United States of America over his alleged involvement in a $1.25 million wire fraud scheme.
Justice Akintayo Aluko made the remand order after granting an application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) pursuant to the Extradition Act (Cap. E25), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, seeking the defendant’s custody pending the hearing and determination of the extradition proceedings.
Folawunmi is allegedly facing charges in the United States bordering on email compromise, aiding and abetting wire fraud, and wire fraud, involving a total sum of $1,252,585.97 (N1,829,063,610.97).
The defendant was arrested by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, following directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The arrest reflects the Nigeria Police Force’s renewed resolve to confront transnational and cyber-enabled crimes through intelligence-led operations and strengthened cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies under the current police leadership.
Court documents revealed that Folawunmi was indicted in Criminal Case No. 3:21-00276, filed on November 15, 2021, by a Grand Jury sitting at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
The indictment, duly certified by the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the court, was signed by Mork H. Wildasin, Acting United States Attorney, and Taylor J. Philips.
According to the charges, the defendant allegedly induced a firm to alter its payment information in at least eight transactions, leading to the fraudulent transfer of approximately $1.25 million.
Moving the application, counsel from the Office of the AGF informed the court that the remand order was necessary to ensure the defendant’s availability pending the hearing and determination of the extradition suit already filed against him.
Counsel to the defendant, Barrister W. Liadi, did not oppose the application but requested an accelerated hearing date to enable him file responses to the extradition proceedings.
Justice Aluko consequently ordered that Folawunmi be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and adjourned the matter to January 21, 2025, for the hearing of the extradition application.
In an affidavit sworn to by Ekeanyanwu Oluchi Angela of the Central Authority Unit, International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, Office of the AGF, the Federal Government stated that:
- The United States formally requested the arrest and extradition of Folawunmi with all supporting documents attached.
- The offences for which extradition is sought are not political in nature.
- The request was not made for the purpose of persecuting or punishing the defendant on account of his race, religion, nationality, or political opinions.
- If surrendered, the defendant will enjoy fair trial rights and will not be subjected to discriminatory treatment.
- No criminal proceedings are pending against him in Nigeria for the same offences.
- The offences are neither trivial nor oppressive to warrant refusal of extradition.
- The affidavit further affirmed that the request was made in good faith and in the interest of justice, in line with Nigeria’s international obligations.
The case reinforces Nigeria’s intensifying crackdown on cybercrime and transnational financial offences, as well as the country’s commitment to honouring international extradition treaties. It also highlights the Nigeria Police Force’s expanding role under IGP Egbetokun in dismantling cross-border criminal networks through global partnerships and coordinated law-enforcement action.
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