The Federal High Court has ordered the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami to surrender two Nigerian men – Princewill Ugonna Anuegunwa and Lateef Alade Alagbada – for trial in the United States of America (USA).
Anuegunwa, who claimed to be a graduate of the Ogun State University, is wanted in the US in relation to his alleged involvement in “wire fraud,” while Alagbada is wanted in relation to the offences of “conspiracy to distribute and import heroin into the US from Nigeria.”
The Federal High Court ordered the surrender of both Nigerians in judgments in two extradition cases filed and argued before the Federal High Court in Abuja and Lagos by Pius Akutah of the Central Control Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice.
In a judgment on June 1, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, upheld that argument by Akutah, to the effect that the applicant provided sufficient materials to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in its favour.
The judgment was on an extraction application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/505/2019.
Justice Ekwo held: “I am satisfied that the evidence of the applicant in this case is in compliance with Section 17(1)(a) & (b) (3)(a) & (b) and (4) of the Extradition Act, and I hereby admit and rely on same.
“I find that the applicant has made a case to warrant the issuance of the order sought in the application. The application succeeds on the merit.
“Consequently, order is hereby made for the surrender of the respondent – Princewill Ugonna Anuegunwa – by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation to the United States of America to answer for the criminal charges against him in that country after 15 days thereof.
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“The respondent is hereby committed to the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until the order of this court for his surrender is carried out.”
Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos, gave similar verdict in an earlier judgment in the case against Alagbada.
In the judgment given on April 22 this year, in the case marked: FHC/L/CS/2212/2029, Justice Hassan held that the applicant established its case against the respondent.
The judge said: “From the foregoing, I hold that the applicant has satisfied this court with documentary exhibits substantial enough to warrant the grant of this application.
“I find as a fact that proper procedure for the surrender of the respondent has been adopted by the United States of America and the Attorney General of the Federation.
“I therefore commit the respondent, Alagbada Lateef to Interpol custody for extradition to the United States of America as a fugitive.
“The fugitive is also ordered to await the order of the Attorney General of the Federation for his surrender to the United States of America after the expiration of 15 days from the date of the judgment of this court in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(1) of the Extradition Act.”
