Nigeria gets nod to hand over 2 citizens for trial in US over drug, wire fraud

…Both citizens wanted for crimes in US

The Federal High Court has ordered the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Justice Abubakar Malami to hand over two Nigerians – Princewill Ugonna Anuegunwa and Lateef Alade Alagbada – for trial in the United States of America.

Anuegunwa, a supposed graduate of the Ogun State University, is wanted in the US for a crime related to his alleged involvement in “wire fraud,” while Alagbada is wanted for alleged criminal offences connected to “conspiracy to distribute and import of heroin into the US from Nigeria.”

The Federal High Court ordered the surrender of the two Nigerians in judgments in two extradition cases filed and argued before the Federal High Court in Abuja and Lagos by Pius Akutah of the Central Control Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice.

In a judgment on June 1 this year, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja sustained that argument by Akutah, to the effect that the applicant provided sufficient materials to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in its favour.

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The judgment was on an extraction application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/505/2019.

Justice Ekwo held: “I am satisfied that the evidence of the applicant, in this case, is in compliance with Section 17(1) (a) & (b) (3)(a) & (b) and (4) of the Extradition Act, and I hereby admit and rely on same.

“I find that the applicant has made a case to warrant the issuance of the order sought in the application. The application succeeds on the merit.

“Consequently, order is hereby made for the surrender of the respondent – Princewill Ugonna Anuegunwa – by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation to the United States of America to answer for the criminal charges against him in that country after 15 days thereof.

“The respondent is hereby committed to the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until the order of this court for his surrender is carried out.”

A similar verdict was given earlier in the case against Alagbada at the Federal High Court, Lagos by Justice Muslim Hassan.

In the ruling given on April 22 this year, in the case marked: FHC/L/CS/2212/2029, Justice Hassan held that the applicant established its case against the respondent.

The judge said: “From the foregoing, I hold that the applicant has satisfied this court with documentary exhibits substantial enough to warrant the grant of this application.

“I find as a fact that proper procedure for the surrender of the respondent has been adopted by the United States of America and the Attorney General of the Federation.

“I therefore commit the respondent, Alagbada Lateef to Interpol custody for extradition to the United States of America as a fugitive.”

“The fugitive is also ordered to await the order of the Attorney General of the Federation for his surrender to the United States of America after the expiration of 15 days from the date of the judgment of this court in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(1) of the Extradition Act.”