Court ruling: Ex-Minting boss set for extradition to UK

Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the extradition of a former Managing Director of Nigerian Security, Minting and Printing Company, Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, to the United Kingdom to face criminal charges.

Justice Chukwu ordered that Okoyomon be extradited to the UK within 30 days. He ordered the former NSMPC boss be remanded in prison pending the time the extradition processes would be completed. ‎

The court was delivering judgment on the extradition application filed on September 29, 2014 by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

The court had earlier on Monday struck out a separate suit filed by Okoyomon challenging his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission based on the request by the British High Commission in Nigeria for his extradition.

The court held in its judgment in Okoyomon's suit that the Attorney-General of the Federation having filed the application for his extradition, his suit had become academic.

The court also dismissed his preliminary objection to the AGF's extradition application. It  held that Akoyomon, through his counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), 'has no defence for this application and did not make any attempt to counter it.'

It also held that the AGF had satisfied all the requirements under the Extradition Act Cap E25 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 for the extradition of the man who was said to have been indicted for criminal offences in the UK.