Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh has announced that he will deliver a ruling on the constitutional challenge to the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act, brought forth by US-indicted businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed, on Monday, January 5.
The Mohameds have filed an application in the High Court to block their extradition to the United States, where they face charges including money laundering, tax evasion, and wire fraud related to their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises. The legal representation for the Mohameds—Attorneys-at-Law Siand Dhurjon, Damien Da Silva, and Roysdale Forde—argues that the amendment’s provisions, particularly the Authority to Proceed (ATP) that initiated their extradition, are unconstitutional.
The respondents in this case include Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and Magistrate Judy Latchman, who is overseeing the extradition proceedings. The Mohameds are seeking to quash the ATP by writ of certiorari and are requesting declarations that the two ministers have no role in issuing the ATP. They aim to prohibit further involvement of these ministers in their extradition and to suspend the ongoing proceedings pending the High Court’s decision.
This legal challenge comes shortly after Magistrate Latchman dismissed a previous constitutional application filed by the Mohameds, which sought to refer their extradition case to the High Court. She characterized their arguments as “frivolous and vexatious,” stating that they were resolved by higher courts and deemed an abuse of process.
Following the proceedings, Attorney General Nandlall described the challenge as a delaying tactic, emphasizing that serious legal issues have not been presented. He asserted, “Extradition law is quite settled; it’s a straightforward area of law now,” and expressed belief that the Mohameds would not succeed in their challenge.
Nandlall further explained that the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act provides a comprehensive system of safeguards for individuals affected by extradition proceedings, allowing for appeals to the High Court and beyond.
The Mohameds’ extradition is sought under the Guyana–United Kingdom extradition treaty, with the US Government formally submitting its request on October 30, 2025. They face 11 criminal charges, with the possibility of significant prison sentences if convicted. These charges follow sanctions imposed over a year ago for evasion of taxes on gold exports, specifically related to the omission of over 10,000 kg of gold from customs declarations and avoiding more than $50 million in duty taxes.
