EFCC
Press Release
Justice E. S Chukwu of the
Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on
Monday, May 4, 2015 ordered the extradition of Emmanuel Okoyomon, former
managing director and chief executive officer, Nigerian Security Printing and
Minting Company, NSPM, 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.
Arguing the matter, Alex
Izinyon, SAN, counsel to the accused, had challenged the jurisdiction of the
court to entertain and determine the matter saying, that there is no
extradition treaty between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to him, Nigeria is not a party to the 1931 Extradition
Treaty between Nigeria and United States of America.
Izinyon further argued that,
the London Scheme for extradition within the Commonwealth, 2002, does not apply
in Nigeria.
He urged the court to dismiss
the extradition application.
However, M. S Hassan who
represented the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke,
countered Izinyon’s submission. He explained that the 1931 treaty became
applicable to Nigeria
in 1935 and was never repealed by any enactment, stressing that schedule 2 under
Extradition law provides that, “the law shall apply to all Commonwealth Nations”
Ruling on the matter today,
Justice Chukwu ordered that the accused, Okoyomon, be extradited within thirty
days from the date of the ruling to face trial in the United Kingdom
while being remanded in prison custody pending his extradition.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head,
Media & Publicity
4th
May, 2015
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