Convicted Nigerian fugitive extradited to U.S. over illegal remuneration

A convicted Nigerian fugitive, Florence Enwerim Onyegbu, has been extradited to the United States of America (USA), where she is wanted to answer to criminal charges bordering on violation of the U.S. Law involving the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

Her extradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a request by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), seeking assistance for her apprehension.

This was disclosed via a statement issued on Friday by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.

Uwujaren noted that investigations by the EFCC revealed that the Nigerian fugitive changed her name from Florence E. Onyegbu to Janet Boi in an attempt to remain hidden.

He noted that the woman was arrested when the EFCC operatives stormed her residence in the Ojodu area of Lagos on February 21, 2022.

He disclosed that a national identity card with the name Janet Boi as well as a Texas driver’s license with the name Florence Enwerim Onyegbu were found on Onyegbu when she was arrested.

The EFCC spokesman added that the anti-graft agency, on March 22, 2023, handed over Onyegbu to the FBI, following an extradition order granted by Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on December 2, 2022.

“Onyegbu’s travails began after she was arrested on February 12, 2011 in the U.S. and subsequently sentenced to 46 months imprisonment, following a guilty plea , over the violation of the U.S. Law bordering on the offer and payment of illegal remuneration in a health care matter.

“Although she was ordered to report for service of her sentence on April 4, 2011, she failed to surrender on that date.

“Consequently, she was further charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence in violation of U.S. Law on March 4, 2013,” Uwujaren disclosed.

The Star