Court tosses request for stay in Mohameds’ extradition case

Mar 11, 2026 News

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…appeal ruling set for March 17

(Kaieteur News) – The Court of Appeal on Tuesday threw out the request by embattled businessman and politician Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed to stay the extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court pending the determination of their substantive appeal case.

The Court later set the ruling on the substantive appeal for March 17. 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).

As such, presiding Justices of Appeal including Chancellor of the Judiciary, Roxane George and Judges, Nareshwar Harnanan and Vishnu Persaud heard the arguments from attorneys in the case on the issue of bias.

The arguments were presented 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.

Nandlall argued that the minister must act on extradition requests but it is for the court to decide if the order is lawful. He noted while the affidavit alleged political bias against the Mohamed, the evidence points to a different story. The AG contended that when the request was made in 2024, the Mohameds were still supporters of the ruling regime. He said however that this does not stop the government from performing its duty under the established treaty. “These particulars of the charge date back to 2017 up to 2024 they were with the government, when the sanctions came in 2024 …It later became public knowledge that the person for whom the request is made was running for office. So, the claim of political bias had become convenient excuse.”

Nandlall stressed there is no case whereby extradition requests can be stalled or rejected due to political influence. He described the claim as convenient and contrived. On those grounds, he said  the allegation must be rejected.

The defence led by Senior Counsel and attorney for the Mohameds, Fyard Hosein contended 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 lawyer  contended that the proceeding should be handled by an independent party and not a minister attached to the government. However, the Attorney General argued that the minister cannot delegate her functions to anyone else in extradition matters.

“The minister is named by the Parliament as the agency to perform this function. It is an executive function, treaty obligations, extradition is from Government to Government…”

Mendes also argued that delegating the power to another minister would not solve the defence’s concerns. “If another minister were to act, they too would be accused of presumed bias,” he told the court, adding that delegation would more appropriately be made to a public officer if it were contemplated at all.

He further noted that the extradition request predated Mohamed’s political involvement, telling the court that the process cannot be invalidated because he later entered electoral politics. “The process of extradition cannot grind to a halt because one of the men being sought is an opposition leader,” Mendes said.

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, Court of Appeal, extradition, request for stay

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