COURT ORDERS EXTRADITION OF NIGERIAN MAN TO UK OVER ALLEGED MURDER, DRUG OFFENCES
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the extradition of a Nigerian man, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, also known as Matthew Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom to face trial over alleged murder and drug-related offences.
Justice Ayokunle Faji delivered the ruling on Monday in suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025, following an application filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
In his judgment, Justice Faji held that the Federal Government had satisfied all statutory requirements under the Extradition Act for the surrender of the respondent.
“The applicant has met the conditions stipulated under the Extradition Act for the surrender of the respondent. The offences for which the respondent is sought are extraditable and are also offences under Nigerian law,” the court ruled.
The extradition request, dated February 20, 2025, and filed on March 5, 2025, was brought pursuant to the Extradition Act, Cap. E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The Federal Government sought Adebiyi’s surrender following a formal request from authorities in the United Kingdom, where he is wanted over two criminal complaints bordering on murder and narcotics offences.
Arguing the case, counsel to the AGF, O. Kupolati, told the court that Adebiyi qualified as a “fugitive criminal” under Section 21 of the Act. He cited judicial authorities including Orhunu v. FRN and Anuebunwa v. A.G.F., stressing that the court’s role at this stage was not to determine guilt or innocence.
“The duty of the court is to determine whether a prima facie case exists and whether the statutory preconditions for extradition have been fulfilled,” Kupolati submitted.
The AGF supported the application with a five-paragraph affidavit deposed to by a Principal Executive Officer in the Central Authority Unit of the International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department. Among the attached documents was an authenticated arrest warrant issued by a Magistrate’s Court in Croydon, United Kingdom.
Adebiyi, through his counsel Olanrewaju Ajanaku, opposed the application, filing a counter-affidavit and written submissions.
The defence argued that the extradition request violated the respondent’s fundamental rights to fair hearing, personal liberty, and dignity of the human person as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
Counsel also contended that no validly domesticated extradition treaty existed between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, asserting that the London Scheme for Extradition within the Commonwealth was merely administrative and lacked the force of law.
In addition, Ajanaku informed the court that his client suffers from a chronic medical condition requiring constant monitoring and argued that extradition would disrupt his treatment and pose serious health risks. He further submitted that, as a Nigerian citizen with dual nationality, Adebiyi could be tried locally if necessary.
However, Justice Faji dismissed the objections and granted the extradition request, clearing the way for Adebiyi’s surrender to UK authorities to face trial.
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