CCJ grants temporary stay in Mohameds’ extradition case, appeal to be heard next month

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) earlier today granted a stay of the extradition proceedings involving Unites States-Sanctioned and indicted businessmen Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, temporarily halting their surrender to the United States as the court considers their latest legal challenge.

The development comes just one day after Attorney General Anil Nandlall signalled the State’s readiness to contest the matter at the region’s apex court, following the Mohameds’ application for special leave to appeal decisions made by the local courts.

The stay was issued during a virtual case management conference held this morning, where attorneys representing both sides appeared before the court to outline how the matter should proceed. The order effectively pauses the ongoing extradition case before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court until further directions are given by the CCJ.

The appeal is set to be heard next month.

In his remarks on Monday, Nandlall had maintained that the State was fully prepared to defend the rulings of the lower courts, noting that the Court of Appeal had unanimously found the Mohameds’ case to be without merit. He also pointed out that applicants seeking special leave from the CCJ must satisfy strict legal thresholds, including demonstrating that their appeal has a reasonable prospect of success.

The Mohameds, however, moved directly to the CCJ in an effort to overturn that outcome, naming Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, the Attorney General, and Magistrate Latchman as respondents in their application.

Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein and Roysdale Forde are appearing for the applicants, while Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes is among the attorneys representing the State.

The matter stems from an extradition request issued by the United States, where the Mohameds are accused of a range of serious financial offences, including money laundering, wire fraud, tax evasion, and bribery. The allegations are reportedly linked to large-scale gold exports and the evasion of significant revenues.

Local authorities acted on the request in October 2025, when the businessmen were arrested, triggering the start of extradition proceedings in Guyana.

Since then, the Mohameds have mounted multiple legal challenges in the local courts, arguing that the process is unlawful and should be halted. However, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal rejected those arguments and allowed the proceedings to continue.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the case had “absolutely no merit,” clearing the way for the extradition hearing to procee