Ex-Mint Boss, Okoyomon's Extradition: Court Adjourns Sine Die

BEVERLY HILLS, May 25, (THEWILL) –  Justice E. S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja Monday adjourned hearing in the matter involving Emmanuel Okoyomon, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPM, sine die.

Justice Chukwu had on May 4, 2015 ordered the extradition of Okoyomon to the United Kingdom to face charges of corruption and money laundering.

Okoyomon's extradition is being sought by the UK 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.

Dissatisfied by the May 4, 2015 ruling, Okoyomon through his counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, had approached the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of execution of the order of the lower court.

At today's sitting, B. Abu, who represented Izinyon told the court that hearing on the matter at the Court of Appeal had been fixed for Thursday, May 28, 2015.

By that action, Abu argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to further hearing on the matter pending the determination of the case at the Appeal court.

However, prosecution counsel, M. S. Hassan, from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, denied being served with any process regarding the purported applicant's appeal at the appellate court.

Consequently, Justice Chukwu ordered the parties to await the outcome of the proceedings at the Court of Appeal and ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody.