Guyana's opposition leader and his father lose appeal against US extradition

 

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an appeal brought by Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition in Guyana, and his father Nazar Mohamed, challenging their extradition to the United States.

 

The pair was seeking to determine the validity of an Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued under Guyana's Fugitive Offenders Act. 

 

The extradition request was received by Guyana in October 2025 after which the Minister of Home Affairs issued an ATP, which initiated the extradition process before the courts.

 

The Mohameds subsequently sought judicial review of that decision, alleging that the ATP was invalid because it was tainted by actual or apparent bias arising from public statements made by senior government officials during the 2025 election campaign.

 

In delivering the Court's judgment, Justice Denys Barrow said a minister's decision to grant an ATP can be reviewed if there is evidence of bias. 

 

However, he ruled that political bias on its own is not sufficient to overturn the decision.

 

"Having regard to the opinions expressed, this Court decides, one, the application for special leave to appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal is granted. Two, the substantive appeal is dismissed. Three, the interim stay of the extradition proceedings imposed by this court on 25 March 2026 is hereby lifted. Four, there shall be no order as to costs before this court," he declared.