Justice Evoh Chukwu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, granted the request for the extradition of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, to Britain to face criminal trial of bribery and corruption .
The Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), had approached the court for an extradition order against the ex-NSPMC boss over allegation of corruption.
Justice Chukwu ordered that Okoyomon should be extradited within 30 days to the United Kingdom for the trial .
Freedom Online learned that Okoyomon immediately filed an appeal against the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
To Justice Chukwu, there is a treaty agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and since the treaty is valid and applicable in Nigeria, the federal government has power to extradite the accused person .
Justice Chukwu also held that all legal procedures were properly followed by the Attorney-General with the placement of Certified True Copy (CTC) of letter of indictment of the accused, letter of request for his extradition from the British High Commissioner and Okoyomon did not challenge all issues of corruption levelled against him by the documents from the United Kingdom meaning that he accepted the allegation brought against him
The judge noted that no Nigerian court will willingly surrender its citizen to any country for trial, but because Okoyomon also hold British citizenship, there is nothing wrong in his extradition to UK for trial.
Okoyomon is wanted in the UK over his alleged role in the bribery scandal involving some officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NSPMC and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

















