The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has cleared the way for extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, to resume after all the presiding judges unanimously dismissed their appeal challenging the legality of the process initiated against them at the request of the United States.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the region’s apex court affirmed the rulings of Guyana’s High Court and Court of Appeal, finding that Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond acted within her statutory authority when she issued the Authority to Proceed (ATP) under the Fugitive Offenders Act.
The Court also rejected claims that the Minister’s decision was tainted by actual or apparent bias.
In fact, Justice Denys Barrow said; “The second appellant (Azruddin Mohamed) does not have clean hands. He provoked verbal attacks against him by his own earlier attacks against government officials, or his own willing participation in a general brawl of politics.”
As a consequence of its ruling, the CCJ discharged the interim stay it had previously granted and made no order as to costs. The decision allows the extradition matter to proceed before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.
The legal challenge arose after the United States, on October 30, 2025, formally requested the extradition of the two men to answer an 11-count criminal indictment alleging conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.
Following receipt of the request, the Home Affairs Minister issued an Authority to Proceed, the statutory step required to commence extradition proceedings under Guyanese law.
On October 31, 2025, Chief Magistrate Latchman issued warrants for their arrest, triggering committal proceedings that remain before the Magistrates’ Court.
The Mohameds subsequently turned to the High Court in December 2025, seeking judicial review of the Minister’s decision.
They argued that the Authority to Proceed was unlawful and asked the court to suspend the extradition process pending determination of their challenge.
However, the High Court dismissed their application on February 4, 2026, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision on March 17, 2026, with both courts declining to halt the extradition proceedings.
Their final challenge before the CCJ has now also failed, effectively removing the last legal obstacle to the continuation of the extradition proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
