On Friday 26 June 2015, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in Nigeria, granted a stay on the order to extradite Emmanuel Okoyomon, to the United Kingdom. The Court rejected his bail application, pending the outcome of his appeal. A report is here.
Background
Mr Okoyomon is a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM). He is sought by the UK government over bribery allegations, involving officials of the NSPM, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Securency International Pty of Australia, between 2006 and 2008. Mr Okoyomon has denied any wrongdoing.
In July 2014, the UK government, through the British High Commission in Nigeria, formally requested the extradition of Mr Okoyomon. On 29 September 2014, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in Nigeria ordered a magistrate to deal with the request, pursuant to section 6 of the Extradition Act 1967.
Federal High Court, Abuja, Judgment: 4 May 2015
On 4 May 2015, Justice Evoh Chukwu, in a combined judgment that addressed both Mr Okoyomon’s notice of a preliminary objection, and the substantive merits of the extradition application made by the UK, held:
- The 1931 Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the United Kingdom was made to be applicable in Nigeria in 1935, pursuant to section 315(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN). It is therefore an existing law within the meaning of section 12(1) of the CFRN.
- The 2002 London Scheme for extradition within the Commonwealth (London Scheme) has also been transposed into the national law of Nigeria under s. 12(1) of the CFRN. Further, the London Scheme was not repealed by Decree 87 of 1966.
Justice Chukwu ordered Mr Okoyomon to be extradited to the UK to face trial, within 30 days from the date of the ruling. He further ordered Mr Okoyomon to be remanded in custody, pending his extradition. A report of the 2014 judgment is here.
Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Judgment: Friday 26 June 2015
Mr Okoyomon appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court. On 26 June 2015, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, granted a stay on any extradition, pending the determination of the appeal before it. The Court, however, rejected his bail application.
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