The Federal High Court in Lagos has approved an application by the Attorney General of the Federation to extradite Samuel Abiodun to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Justice Akintayo Aluko issued the order on June 14, 2024, following the AGF’s application submitted by Kehinde Fagbemi of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The Federal Government specifically requested Abiodun’s extradition to face two charges: “wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, with a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956 (h), also carrying a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years.”
Abiodun, represented by his counsel Demola Adekoya, denied the allegations and contested the court’s authority to order his extradition.
However, after evaluating the evidence, Justice Aluko concluded that the Federal Government provided sufficient evidence indicating that Abiodun has a case to answer in the United States.
Justice Aluko also noted that Abiodun misunderstood the treaty between Nigeria and the United States, which authorizes the court to grant extradition requests.
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.”
According to a certified copy of the judgment reviewed by our correspondent, the respondent denied the applicant’s allegations, asserting that he has lived his entire life in Nigeria and has never traveled to the US.
He stated that he has no business or romantic ties with anyone in the US and has not committed any crimes in either Nigeria or the US.
He further claimed that he did not conspire with anyone to engage in money laundering or wire fraud involving a student at Kutztown University in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, identified as J.S. (now deceased, according to the applicant).
The respondent also denied using Snapchat or the persona “ALICE_D013,” which was allegedly used to extort money from J.S., and stated that he has never been tried or convicted by any court in Nigeria for the alleged offense.
Additionally, he claimed that he is merely a victim of persecution due to his association with someone described as “a friend from WhatsApp” while conducting legitimate business through a registered cryptocurrency platform called Binance, with which he is lawfully affiliated.
(Punch)
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