Former MINT boss dares federal government to extradite him to the UK
The former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company of Nigeria, Mr. Ehidiamhen Okoyomon, during his trial on Monday, 13 October, challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal Government to extradite him to United Kingdom for prosecution.
The UK government is seeking Okoyomon’s extradition over his alleged role in the bribery scandal involving officials of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company, NSPMC, and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.
Isiyon had earlier filed a preliminary objection to the plans to send his client to the UK for trial, but during the case, which was presided over by Justice E.S Chukwu, Okoyomon’s defence counsel, Chief Alex Isiyon, SAN, told the court, that it lacked the required jurisdiction to extradite him to the UK for trial over the alleged bribery scam.
The lawyer argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case due to the fact there was no
extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK.
Isiyon insisted that his client must be shown the document containing the extradition treaty between the two nations to warrant the trial or it should be discontinued forthwith in the interest of the law.
He stated, “We want to be shown where this is in the law. What we have is only protocol not extradition treaty.”
In a counter-argument, the prosecuting counsel, M.S Hassan, told the court that he had not been served with the application and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Chukwu adjourned the hearing till Thursday, 16 October, while instructing the EFCC to remand Okoyomon in its custody till the adjourned date.
