Adedunmola Gbadegesin
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$148,000 romance scam: FG extradicts Adedunmola Gbadegesin to U.S.

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For allegedly defrauding an American woman of over $148,000 in a “romance scam”, a Nigerian, Adedunmola Gbadegesin, has been extradited to the United States of America.

The Federal Government extradited Gbadegesin to the U.S. where he is wanted in a case of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Gbadegesin was arrested in Nigeria on September 2, 2021, and the U.S. intends to prosecute Gbadegesin for offences allegedly contravening Title 18, US Code, Section 1349 and 1956 (h).

On arrival in U.S., he will be arraigned before a District Court for the District of New Mexico, where two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering have been filed against him.

On conviction, Gbadegesin could face a maximum jail term of 20 years.

Disclosing the extradition, the spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said it was coordinated by the Commission following a request from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

On February 11, 2022, an Order by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/765/21 was made in respect of the extradition.

Persecondnews recalls that the detained DCP Abba Kyari, is wanted in the U.S. for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h).

Kyari, who has yet to be extradited as requested by U.S., carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting that offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.

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United States authorities on July 29, 2021, said Kyari, allegedly worked with Hushpuppi to punish the latter’s partner with whom he defrauded a Qatari to the tune of $1.1 million.

The allegation came after Hushpuppi reportedly pleaded guilty to charges of fraud in an American court last July.

But Kyari had denied any wrongdoing, saying Hushpuppi’s partner was arrested after his office was called about a potential case of threat to life.

“Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him,” Kyari said.

“We responded to a distress call he made on threat to his family and released the suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the suspect.”

The United States Department of Justice said in a statement that Hushpuppi connived with one Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance the construction of a school.

 

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