THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has set April 21, 2026, as the date to hear an application for special leave to appeal filed by U.S. indicted businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed.
According to a statement issued by the Court following a case management conference that was held on Wednesday, Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed v. Minister of Home Affairs, Attorney General, and Magistrate of Guyana.
The conference addressed procedural issues, including the urgency of the case and the need for its swift progression.
The matter arises from an extradition request made by the United States Government on October 30, 2025, seeking the surrender of the two men to face “an 11-count criminal indictment, including allegations of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.”
Following the request, Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs issued an Authority to Proceed under the Fugitive Offenders Act. The following day, Magistrate Judy Latchman issued arrest warrants, initiating extradition proceedings in the local Court of Committal, which are still ongoing.
The applicants later moved to the High Court in December 2025, challenging the legality of the Authority to Proceed and seeking to halt the extradition process. However, their claim was dismissed on February 4, 2026.
A subsequent appeal was also dismissed by the Court of Appeal on March 17, 2026, with both courts declining to grant a stay of proceedings.
During yesterday’s conference, the CCJ ruled that “it was in the interest of justice that a stay of proceedings be granted in the matter until its decision on the application for special leave,” thus pausing the extradition process pending its determination.
The Court also established an expedited timeline for filings. Respondents are required to submit affidavits in opposition by April 2, 2026, while all parties must file written submissions by April 10. Any replies are due by April 15.
The application for special leave is scheduled to be heard via video conference on April 21.
The panel hearing the matter comprises CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson, along with Justices Rajnauth-Lee and Ononaiwu.
Just last week, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled that their appeal against extradition proceedings to the United States had “absolutely no merit.”
It was indicated that there was no evidence of bias in the actions of the Minister of Home Affairs and that the statutory process had been properly followed.
In handing down that court’s summary ruling, acting chancellor of the Judiciary, Roxane George, stated that “on the facts of this case, bias does not arise,” while noting that there was no evidence establishing the same in relation to the minister’s decision to issue the Authority to Proceed (ATP).
