A Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Wednesday ordered the extradition of a Nigerian citizen, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi to the United States. The court, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, ordered Babafemi’s extradition sequel to an application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In his ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed held: “I have read the necessary and relevant documents which emanated from the Office of the AGF. The respondent is not contesting or denying the proceeding which seeks to extradite him to the United States. Since there is no form of objection to the application from the respondent, this court is satisfied that the application is in order.”
He ordered that “the respondent be extradited to the U.S. to face the indictment against him. The respondent shall be surrendered to officials of the U.S. Government not later than 15 days from the date of this order.
“The respondent shall remain in the custody of the SSS (State Security Service) pending his surrender to officials of the United States Government.”
Babafemi fled to Nigeria when he realised that he was to be arrested by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation over his alleged terrorist activities. He was arrested and detained by the SSS.
Meanwhile, Babafemi has been charged before a Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, United States (U.S.) with providing material support for a designated foreign terrorist organisation, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and using high-powered fire-arms in furtherance of the crime.
The charge followed the unsealing of an indictment yesterday in the court against the defendant, who is also known as “Abdullah” and “Ayatollah Mustapha,” from Nigeria.
A statement by the Information Office, Public Affairs Section of U.S. Consulate-General, Lagos, indicated that the U.S. is currently seeking the extradition of Babafemi.
The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Loretta E. Lynch; Acting Assistant Attorney-General, National Security Division John Carlin; and Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, George Venizelos.
Lynch, however, acknowledged the continued co-operation and assistance of the government of Nigeria in terrorism matters affecting both nations.
According to court documents, between approximately January 2010 and August 2011, the defendant travelled twice from Nigeria to Yemen to meet and train with leaders of AQAP, the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda.
Babafemi reportedly assisted in AQAP’s English-language media operations, which include the publication of the magazine Inspire.
Under the direction of the now-deceased senior AQAP commander, Anwar al-Aulaqi, Babafemi was provided by AQAP leadership with the equivalent of almost $9,000 in cash to recruit other English-speakers from Nigeria to join the group.
While in Yemen, Babafemi was said to have received weapons training from AQAP. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The US government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys – Zainab Ahmad and Hilary Jager, with assistance from Trial Attorney William M. Narus of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section and Trial Attorney Timothy Hammer of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.