Nigeria can’t extradite me to UK – ex-NSPMC boss

Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon
| credits: newssneeze24.com

A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security, Minting and Printing Company, Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, has opposed the request by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, to extradite him to the United Kingdom to face bribery charges.

The UK government was said to have asked that Okoyomon be extradited to answer questions over his alleged role in the bribery allegation involving officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the NSMPC and the Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

Okoyomon has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss Adoke’s extradition application, insisting that “there is no extradition Treaty existing between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.”

An affidavit in support of the suit dated October 7 and filed on October 10, 2014, stated, “That I know that Nigeria is not a party to the 1931 Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and it is not applicable in Nigeria.

“That the London Scheme for Extradition within the Commonwealth, 2002, does not apply in Nigeria.”

“That I know as a fact that Nigeria is not a signatory nor has it ratified the Treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain.”

The affidavit was deposed to by one Josephine Majebi.

Okoyomon’s counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN) also said that the AGF’s extradition application failed to satisfy provisions of Sections 1(1) – (6) of the Extradition Act.

Izinyon also argued that the extradition application by Adoke disclosed no cause of action against his client and the AGF, who instituted the application, lacked the locus standi to do so.

Further faulting the legal basis for the proposed extradition, Izinyon maintained that there had been “no Order of the President published in any Federal Gazette applying the provisions of the Extradition Act for the extradition of persons to the United Kingdom”.

“That the United Kingdom is not one of the countries listed in the First Schedule to the Extradition Act, CAP E25, LFN 2004, to which the Extradition Act, Cap 25, LFN, 2004, applies,” the supporting affidavit added.

Izinyon, at the Monday’s proceedings, sought to merge the suit with a separate one in which he is seeking   “an order setting aside any request or order or purported order by the requested state of the United Kingdom against the applicant.”

But Mr. M.S Hassan, who represented the AGF, said it was premature to request for the consolidation of the two suits when he had yet to receive a copy of the suit.

Justice Chukwu has fixed both matters for October 22 for further hearing.