A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that a Nigerian, Rasheed Mustapha, be extradited to the United States of America for allegedly stealing $798,907.62 (N125.3m) in that country.


The verdict came after a lot of drama between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Mustapha, who through his counsel, Joseph Nwabike, fought the extradition order.


Nwabike had argued that the court was not competent to hear the extradition charge. He added that he could not be extradited because of the alleged offences, more so, when the offences were not against any Nigerian law.


The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which filed the extradition order on behalf of the EFCC, had explained in the order that, “,  a request has been made to Nigeria by a diplomatic representative of the Embassy of the United States of America, Abuja, for the surrender of Rasheed Abayomi Mustapha who is jointly a subject of a superceding indictment in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Case Number: 08-CR-429 and filed on the 31st day of October, 2011.”


Some of the charges against Mustapha in the USA include, “Conspiracy to violate the laws of the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States code, Section 1349, namely mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.”


The letter had added that each count was punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.


In her ruling, Justice Patricia Ajoku dismissed the preliminary objections, stating that based on the Nigerian constitution, the court was competent to decide the extradition of the accused person.


She subsequently said the accused person should be extradited to the US to face the charges. Ajoku also faulted the accused person's argument that the offences were not known to the Nigerian laws.


EFFC Acting Head of Media, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said from the commission's investigation, Mustapha and his collaborators conspired to steal $798,907.62 in distribution cheques.


He said, “Of that amount, $750,651.48 was actually issued and deposited into bank accounts controlled by members of the syndicate. The sum of $500,000 was withdrawn and distributed between Mustapha and his group.


“Mustapha, 37, had returned to Nigeria after allegedly committing the crime in the United States. However, collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI led to his arrest by the operatives of the EFCC in May last year.”

http://odili.net/news/source/2012/feb/2/817.html

I think if more and more Nigerians are extradited to countries where they are accused of committing one crime or another, it will certainly help a greate deal in cleaning up the country and our politics a whole lot.

This is the kind of news i want to hear, Nigeria shouldn't be a safe heaven for bunch of criminals who go around committing crime in other countries and running back to Nigerian to enjoy their loot

Good news - let them suffer for their crimes, in fact when they are deported after finishing the sentences they should be locked up again for defaming the image of Nigeria.

Rubbish!rubbish!! Where are the vasuani brothers accuse in seamen scandal,where are the irannians that brought containers of arm and ammunition with rpgs,Nigeria 4ever u will remain stagnant!

Rubbish!rubbish!! Where are the vasuani brothers accuse in seamen scandal,where are the irannians that brought containers of arm and ammunition with rpgs,Nigeria 4ever u will remain stagnant!

Igbo again, they will never stop the yahoo-yahoo business.

Toktee:

Rubbish!rubbish!! Where are the vasuani brothers accuse in seamen scandal,where are the irannians that brought containers of arm and ammunition with rpgs,Nigeria 4ever u will remain stagnant!

Go ask Nigerian govt those questions, the US govt is doing what every responsible govt will do

ismhab:

Igbo again, they will never stop the yahoo-yahoo business.

Another complete slowpoke, is Rasheed Mustapha, Igbo?

^ Hahahaha. . .

No mind dat Ediot. Na REAL slowpoke. Lol

Ranoscky:

^ Hahahaha. . .

No mind dat Ediot. Na REAL slowpoke. Lol

You would have thought that somebody with a name: ismhab should be able to know that Rasheed Mustapha is not an Igbo name, then again what do you expect from [b]s[/b]ome malams

This is a good news they distroyed my career in UK, after their bastardised letters, emails and 419 activites against UK persons and coporate bodies, it was very hard and still difficult for British people to place Nigerian professsionals especialy accountants to position of trusts. In my last job I nearly had a nervous break-down after being hounded by external auditors and colleagues after they dicovered I had a Nigeria background. The question is must we all be rich to be happy in life?

He is lucky, if they jail him in US,

I pity this planet so much with what it had turned to , there's no other way for a man to enjoy himself or at least be happy without money , the weak minded people can't stand it and will do anything for it and they also pay heavily for it . This life will turn you to what you don't like and will still use your character to hunt you . Earth don't worth a dime anymore

nna men, this guy don ja to God's own country without visa stress, money for ticket. Rasheed, I congratulate you. Your risk really paid off u know,

I am against extradition of any sort. Nigeria should not extradite its citizen to USA. If an American commits heinous in Nigeria and escapes to USA, there is no way USA government would extradite the American to Nigeria.

If Nigerians can not economically and socially fix their country to the level of respectability in the eyes of the world, I suggest Nigeria be disintegrated.

Dede1:

I am against extradition of any sort. Nigeria should not extradite its citizen to USA. If an Americans commits heinous in Nigeria and escapes to USA, there is no way USA government would extradite the American to Nigeria.

If Nigerians can not economically and socially fix their country to the level of respectability in the eyes of the world, I suggest Nigeria be disintegrated. 

if the nigerian govt is too dumb to stand up for Nigeria and Nigerians that should not stop other countries from being responsible
you think all nations work backwads like Nigeria does?

This is very good news. Government should cnntinue to extradite those who go out of the country, steal and bring their loot. This will rid our nation of such criminals. The question is, is it possible for us to get the cooperation of countries that receive monies from criminals who carry our money outside the country? Government should strike an accord with such countries so that we can recover our monies. If we cooperate with them, they must also cooperate with us.

Rasheed Mustapha is a yoruba muslim.Yoruba and fraud,inseperable.

Thats good. No crime should go unpunished

Good news.

milehigh06:

if the nigerian govt is too dumb to stand up for Nigeria and Nigerians that should not stop other countries from being responsible
you think all nations work backwads like Nigeria does?

Take hand shake!!! Good retort!

Good, no room for criminals.

Good news!

Let him go and face the Law, these few bastards have spoiled the Name of Nigeria Internationally

I wonder why we are always very happy about news like this, I am not saying the person who's done something like this has done well, but come to think of it,they are only leaving up to their expectations. What do you expect from the citizen of a country that has rogues as leaders? The leaders should start with themselves first and give these poor Nigerians reasons not to commit crime, then they can extradite.

Gbyte:

I wonder why we are always very happy about news like this, I am not saying the person[b] who's done something like this has done well, but come to think of it,they are only leaving up to their expectations. What do you expect from the citizen of a country that has rogues as leaders? The leaders should start with themselves first and give these poor Nigerians reasons not to commit crime, then they can extradite. [/b]

That is a very poor and shameful excuse for a criminal.

It's like habourin a criminals money that YOU know QUITE WELL that he is a CRIMANL, and stil go ahead to keep such money.

And when the criminal's son came to steal from the habourer, he gets arrested and takin out of his own father's house. NONSENSE!!

How many of them (habourers) own a bank account outside their countries? If they really wanto do us (we the sufferin masses) a favour, they should return and seize holdin the money of our govt criminals. When they dictates a huge amount in ones account, they'll like to investigate to the end to know what kinda bizness that person does to own such money, to know if it's legal or an ilegal bizness. But, the reverse is the case here. They'r so quick to keep and SECURE the money of CRIMINALS (Nigerian govt workers) and never bothers to ask them how the money came about, cos they use it in boostin more of their economy.

They are just fortunate to detained one of the unlucky ones, if u ask me! Peacocks!

Dede1:

I am against extradition of any sort. Nigeria should not extradite its citizen to USA. If an American commits heinous in Nigeria and escapes to USA, there is no way USA government would extradite the American to Nigeria.

If Nigerians can not economically and socially fix their country to the level of respectability in the eyes of the world, I suggest Nigeria be disintegrated.

Right on point, bro!

the cock suckers want to extradite the guy hoping to gain from it. chewww!!! and the homeless one celebrating halleluyah, continue enslaving yaself.

They can lock him up there for life, i couldn't careless, good job US govt, go after any criminal especially the Nigerian ones who travels around the world committing crime.