The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has granted a temporary stay in the extradition case involving Guyana’s opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, and his father Nazar Mohamed, while setting an expedited schedule for the matter.

The case stems from a US request, filed on 30 October 2025, seeking the extradition of the two men to face an 11-count indictment, including conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering. 

The extradition proceedings began in Guyana after the Minister of Home Affairs issued an Authority to Proceed under the Fugitive Offenders Act, and Magistrate Judy Latchman issued arrest warrants on 31 October 2025.

The applicants challenged the Authority to Proceed through judicial review, requesting special leave to appeal and a stay of the magistrate court proceedings. 

Their claims were dismissed by the High Court in February 2026 and upheld by the Court of Appeal in March, which refused to grant a stay.

At the CCJ case management conference, the court granted a stay of proceedings until it rules on the application for special leave. 

The respondents were ordered to file affidavits opposing the application by 2 April, with written submissions due by 10 April and replies by 15 April. The hearing is scheduled via video conference for 21 April at 9:00 am (AST).

In an interview with Newsroom Guyana, Attorney General Anil Nandlall described the conference as “a conservatory order to preserve the status quo until the main event is concluded.” He said the court emphasised the urgency of the case and the need for the proceedings to be concluded “with dispatch,” noting that extradition cases are treated with particular speed globally.

Nandlall also stressed that the appeal has “no likelihood of success”, arguing that political rivalry cannot be used to block the government from fulfilling its legal obligations under extradition law. 

He said delays in the case so far were unusual and that most contested extraditions in Guyana are typically resolved swiftly based on the documentary evidence provided by the requesting country.

The AG added the state remains ready to continue with the extradition proceedings once the matter is resolved.