Court tosses request for stay in Mohameds’ extradition case

Mar 10, 2026 Court Journal, News

…appeal ruling set for March 17

Kaieteur News – Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed’s bid to have a stay of the extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court pending the determination of their substantive appeal case was on Tuesday thrown out and the ruling on the appeal is set for March 17.

The court heard arguments by Mohameds’ lawyers Roysdale Forde SC, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva and from attorneys representing the State Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, and Attorney, Shushana Lall.

The Mohameds have accused the government of political bias regarding the proceedings.
The arguments were heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Roxane George and other justices of appeal: Naredhwar Harnanan and Vishnu Persaud.

The justices refused the defence’s application for a stay of the proceedings at the magistrate’s court and set the ruling for the substantive appeal for March 17.

The Mohamed had brought an action against Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, and Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Court tosses request for stay in Mohameds’ extradition case

Sanctioned businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed

The appeal stems from an earlier high court ruling involving a judicial review challenge to the Minister of Home Affairs’ Authority to Proceed (ATP) in the extradition case, as well as a constitutional challenge to sections of the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act 2009. On February 4, 2026, the high court dismissed the judicial review application, which had alleged bias by the government, particularly by Minister Walrond.

The defence contends that the application is grounded in alleged breaches of natural justice and claims the ATP issued on October 30, 2025, is unlawful, unreasonable, arbitrary and an abuse of power. The filing had also sought orders to quash the ATP through certiorari (order by which a higher court reviews a case tried in a lower court).
Further, the defence contends there is political bias, noting that the minister is a member of the governing PPP/C, while Azruddin Mohamed is an opposition figure who has publicly criticised the government, including the president, vice president and attorney general. The filing also alleges errors in law and fact by the lower court which, the defence claims, resulted in a miscarriage of justice. “It is submitted that the decision of the learned judge in the court below was premised on a number of errors of law and of fact which operated altogether to miscarry justice,” the application stated.

The lawyers further argued that the alleged bias by state officials renders the ATP null and void, citing breaches of the rule of natural justice, particularly the principle of nemo judex in sua causa (no one should be a judge in their own cause).

The Mohameds are facing a federal indictment in Miami, United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page indictment on October 2, 2025. The indictment alleges a wide-ranging fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana.

Following a formal request from the United States, Minister Walrond signed the Authority to Proceed, allowing the extradition matter to proceed before the magistrates’ court. If sufficient evidence is established during committal proceedings, the magistrate could order the Mohameds’ extradition to face charges in the United States.

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Azruddin Mohamed, extradition, Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Judy Latchman, Mohameds

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