Extradition: Court of Appeal Refuses Ex-MINT Boss, Okoyomon’s Bail

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Friday, June 26, 2015 turned down the bail application of Emmanuel Okoyomon, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPM, whose extradition is being sought by the United Kingdom government over his alleged role in the bribery allegation involving officials of Central Bank of Nigeria , CBN, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPM and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

However, the court granted Okoyomon’s plea for stay of execution on the order to extradite him.

The UK government had, through the office of Attorney General of the Federation, requested Okoyomon to be extradited to face charges of corruption and money laundering

In a bid to stall his extradition, Okoyomon had, in October, 2014 through his counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the application to extradite him.

 

Iziyon in his argument posited that, there is no extradition treaty between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

 

He further argued that, the London Scheme for extradition within the Commonwealth, 2002, does not apply in Nigeria.

 

However, M. S Hassan, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation, countered Izinyon’s submission.

 

Hassan argued that, the 1931 treaty became applicable to Nigeria in 1935 and was never repealed by any enactment, stressing that schedule 2 under Extradition law provides that, “the law shall apply to all Commonwealth Nations”.

 

Ruling on the matter on Monday, May 4, 2015, Justice E. S Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja ordered Okoyomon to be extradited to the UK within 30 days from the date of the ruling to face trial, while being remanded in prison custody pending his extradition.

 

Dissatisfied by the ruling, Okoyomon, through his counsel, Izinyon, SAN, approached the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of execution  of the order of the lower court.

 

The appellate court in its ruling on Okoyomon’s applications today, refused his bail, while granting a stay of execution on his extradition pending the determination of the appeal before it.