Man in court following extradition over money laundering racket that targeted a Lincolnshire NHS trust

A man who appeared in the National Crime Agency's top 10 most wanted fraudsters campaign has today (Friday) appeared in a UK court after being extradited from the US  to face charges of an alleged £12 million fraud involving public bodies.
Court news.Court news.
Court news.

Bayo Awonorin was originally arrested in 2012 as part of an alleged money laundering investigation involving public bodies including Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, but he later fled the country while on bail, Lincolnshire Police said.

The 44-year-old was arrested in Maryland, US, and has been successfully extradited after being charged by officers with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money.

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The Lincolnshire force said he has been a wanted man since 2013 in connection with the investigation called Operation Tarlac.

He was traced by Lincolnshire officers from the Economic Crime Unit to the US and through close collaboration with both the UK and US authorities, the force added.

Awonorin this morning appeared in the dock at Lincoln Magistrates Court.

Wearing a white T-shirt, Awonorin spoke to confirm his name as Bayo Lawrence Awonorin and to give his date of birth.

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He also confirmed his nationality as Nigerian and told the court he was of no fixed address.

The court clerk confirmed that Awonorin faces two charges of conspiring with others to defraud public institutions and to convert criminal property.

Both offences are alleged to have occurred between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.

There was no bail application or indication of plea from Awonorin.

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He was remanded in to custody and will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on October 15.

Awonorin, previously from Bexley, London, had been the subject of a BBC Crimewatch appeal and the National Crime Agency’s 10 most wanted fraudster’s campaign in 2016.