Court approves extradition of Samuel Abiodun to the U.S. for wire fraud

The Federal High Court in Lagos State, under the authority of Justice Akintayo Aluko, has ruled in favor of the extradition of Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun to the United States. This decision follows a request by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who accused Abiodun of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, offenses that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment each.

On June 14, 2024, the court granted the Nigerian government’s application for Abiodun’s extradition to stand trial in the US. The government sought Abiodun’s extradition on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, as defined by Title 18, United States Code (U.S.C), Sections 1343 and 1956(h), respectively.

Abiodun, represented by his lawyer Demola Adekoya, denied the allegations and contested the court’s jurisdiction to order his extradition. However, Justice Aluko concluded that the Federal Government had provided sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Abiodun, justifying his extradition.

The judge dismissed Abiodun’s claims regarding the extradition treaty between Nigeria and the US, asserting that Abiodun had misinterpreted its provisions. The judge emphasized that the evidence presented met the legal threshold for extradition.

Referencing the decision of the apex court, Justice Aluko stated that the extradition treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed in London on December 22, 1931, is binding on Nigeria and enforceable in this case. Consequently, the judge ruled in favor of the AGF’s application for Abiodun’s extradition, committing him to prison custody pending his transfer to the US.

The court also directed the AGF to ensure that Abiodun receives a fair trial and is not prejudiced on account of his race, religion, or nationality. His trial in the US should be limited to the extradition offenses supported by the evidence presented.

In the certified true copy of the judgment, Abiodun vigorously denied the accusations, claiming he had never traveled to the US, had no connections there, and had committed no crimes in either Nigeria or the US. He argued that he did not conspire to commit money laundering or wire fraud against J.S., a deceased student at Kutztown University, and denied using Snapchat or posing as “ALICE_D013” to extort money from J.S. Additionally, Abiodun maintained that he had never been tried or convicted in Nigeria for the alleged offenses, and claimed to be a victim of persecution due to his association with an individual on WhatsApp, with whom he conducted legitimate cryptocurrency transactions through Binance.