US-indicted businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed have lost one of their High Court challenges aimed at halting extradition to the United States, where they face multiple fraud and money laundering charges.

The pair had filed two separate legal actions. One challenged sections of Guyana’s Fugitive Offenders Act, while the other sought to nullify the Minister of Home Affairs’ authority to proceed with their extradition.
Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh, who had originally set February 2 for the ruling, delivered a decision today after postponing it to February 9. The timing was critical, as extradition hearings are scheduled at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on February 5 and 6.

In the ruling, the court dismissed the Mohameds’ application, agreeing with submissions made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

The businessmen’s lawyers argued that the extradition process was tainted by political bias. Nandlall countered that such claims were unfounded, stressing that the process is strictly statutory. He noted that accepting allegations of bias would allow individuals to use political claims to evade extradition, which he described as “untenable.”

The court also ordered the Mohameds to pay $500,000 each in legal costs to the three respondents: Attorney General Nandlall, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, and Magistrate Judy Latchman, who is presiding over the ongoing extradition proceedings.

A ruling on the second High Court challenge, which questions the constitutionality of aspects of the Fugitive Offenders Act, is expected on February 16.

The extradition request, submitted by the US government on October 30, 2025, is being pursued under the Guyana–United Kingdom treaty, which remains in effect under the amended Fugitive Offenders Act.
NCN News