The Federal High Court has ordered the Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) 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 of 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 this year, 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.
“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.”
The Federal High Court has ordered the Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) 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 of 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 this year, 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.
“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.”