Court orders Nigerian's extradition to the US for wire fraud

The Attorney General of the Federation filed an application to extradite Samuel Abiodun to the United States of America to stand prosecution for alleged wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, and the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the request.

On June 14, 2024, Justice Akintayo Aluko issued the ruling in response to the AGF’s application, which was submitted by Federal Ministry of Justice employee Kehinde Fagbemi.

Specifically, the Federal Government prayed for the surrender/extradition of Abiodun to face two counts of “wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956 (h), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.”

Abiodun refuted the accusations and contested the court’s authority to compel his extradition, among other things, through his attorney Demola Adekoya.

However, after assessing the evidence against him, Justice Aluko concluded that the FG had shown enough proof to demonstrate Abiodun’s right to a trial in the United States.

He insisted that the respondent had misunderstood the provisions of the US-Nigeria treaty, which gave the court the authority to approve an extradition request.

Justice Aluko held: “Leveraging on the decision of the apex court, the extradition treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain signed in London on December 22, 1931, is recognised as binding on Nigeria and enforceable in the instant case.

“Against the background of the foregoing, the sole issue in this judgment is resolved in favour of the applicant against the respondent.

“To this end, there is merit and substance in the instant application. Judgment is entered for the applicant in the following terms:

“The application of the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation for the surrender and extradition of the respondent, Samuel Abiodun to the United States of America is hereby granted.

“The respondent is further committed to prison custody and shall remain in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service to await the decision of the AGF for his surrender to the US for the purpose of facing his trial.

“The AGF shall ensure and see to it that special arrangements are put in place for the respondent’s fair trial and defence under the laws of the requesting country (USA) to the extent that the respondent is not prejudiced on account of his race, religion, nationality and to ensure that his trial shall be limited to the extradition offence provable by the facts on which his surrender is granted devoid of any superficial sentiments.”

A certified authentic copy of the ruling that our reporter was able to view showed that the respondent had never been to the United States and had lived his entire life in Nigeria, refuting the applicant’s accusations.

He asserted that he didn’t conduct any crimes in Nigeria or the US, nor did he have any romantic or commercial relationships with anyone there.

He continued by saying that he had no involvement in any scheme to launder money or conduct wire fraud against J. S., a Kutztown University student in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (who, according to the applicant, is no longer alive).

The respondent stated that he had never been tried or found guilty for the alleged offense by any Nigerian court, and that he never utilized Snapchat nor possessed the persona of “ALICE_D013” that was purportedly used to demand money from J.S.

In addition, he asserted that he was only being persecuted for being friends with someone who was considered “a friend from WhatsApp” while doing a legitimate company through Binance, a cryptocurrency platform that he is legally registered with.