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Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by project8(m): 8:05pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
US Justice Department Says Former Nigerian Minister Obanikoro Could Face Extradition From US A United States legal scholar and an official of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have provided answers suggesting that Nigeria could successfully request the extradition of Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, who is currently resident in the US. The responses from Rutgers law professor, Roger Clark, and DOJ spokesman, Peter Carr, came in response to inquiries by SaharaReporters into Mr. Obanikoro’s legal status with regard to US extradition laws. Both experts’ responses revealed that Mr. Obanikoro is susceptible to extradition should the Nigerian government follow appropriate legal procedures to request for it. Mr. Obanikoro was again propelled into public attention on Tuesday when agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched several properties belonging to him and his family. SaharaReporters confirmed that EFCC agents went into Mr. Obanikoro’s posh Ikoyi estate in Lagos State and seized expensive wristwatches, vehicles, and other valuable items . SaharaReporters first broke the news of Mr. Obanikoro’s involvement in the infamous Ekitigate scandal—detailing how the former minister anchored the rigging the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State in favor of Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr. Obanikoro, who was as one of the masterminds of the plot, was caught on a leaked audio recording inducing Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh with the promise of promotion and cash once the officer helped deliver the state for the PDP candidate. It was later learned that the cash Mr. Obanikoro used to bankroll Ekitigate, which included bribing polling officers, the military, and other political leaders, came from then National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki. Mr. Dasuki, it is now known, illegally diverted security funds to the tune of at least $2.1 billion during his tenure at the Office of the National Security Adviser. Some of the stolen funds went to Mr. Obanikoro and other PDP henchmen for the purpose of rigging elections for the party. Mr. Obanikoro fled Nigeria in 2015 shortly after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since leaving Nigeria, Mr. Obanikoro has been spotted in several places in the United States. Recently, SaharaReporters obtained graduation photos of Mr. Obanikoro, who had completed a graduate degree in history at Oglethorpe University in Georgia. Musliu Obanikoro receiving a degree from Oglethorpe University, Georgia in 2016 Questions have been raised as to whether Mr. Obanikoro is eligible for extradition from the United States owing to speculation that he holds American citizenship. A SaharaReporters investigation, published in 2007 , included the data page of Mr. Obanikoro’s US passport issued on June 16th, 1995. The name on the passport carries obvious similarities to the name Mr. Obanikoro uses today. At that time, the former minister was going by the name Muhammed Musiliu Olatunde Onikoro. The 2007 SaharaReporters investigation noted that Mr. Obanikoro’s election forms for Lagos State governor used the name Mohammed Musiliu Olatunde Onikoro. Further, a SaharaReporters inquiry confirmed that Mr. Obanikoro worked at the Little Flower Children Service in Brooklyn, New York under his passport name, Olatunde Onikoro, in the 1980s. According to Mr. Obanikoro’s biography on his former campaign website , he also worked in Houston, Texas in the Adult Probation Department following his studies at Texas Southern University. SaharaReporters contacted an international legal expert, Roger Clark , to seek legal clarification on United States laws as they pertain to the extradition of people who, like Mr. Obanikoro, hold American citizenship. Mr. Clark is an expert on international criminal law and a professor at Rutgers University School of Law in the United States. Asked whether the United States government would extradite an American citizen to a foreign country where they had allegedly committed a crime, Mr. Clark stated that “the United States has no problem extraditing its nationals provided there is a treaty.” Mr. Clark added that some countries in Western Europe are reluctant to extradite their own citizens, but added that “common law countries” do not usually have a problem assuming legal processes are followed. According to Mr. Clark, common law countries including Nigeria will often fall under the same treaty that outlines reciprocal and mutually agreed on rules for extraditing their nationals. The legal expert pointed out that the treaty was signed into force in 1935 when Nigeria was still under colonial control by Great Britain and that it remains in effect today. The treaty provides a litany of crimes that qualify for extradition, including fraud, fraudulent conversion, obtaining money or goods by false pretenses, forgery, offenses against bankruptcy law, and bribery. Numerous investigative reports by SaharaReporters and other media indicate that Mr. Obanikoro may have violated several of these laws, including evidence connected to his role in the Ekitigate plot. Sources speaking to SaharaReporters in December 2015 revealed that money stolen by the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has been traced to several companies under the control of Mr. Obanikoro. The sources disclosed that the ill- gotten money was either used for Ekitigate bribes or laundered by Mr. Obanikoro for personal use. SaharaReporters also discussed the issue of extradition with Peter Carr, an official at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) . The DOJ is the primary federal criminal investigation and enforcement arm of the US government and would play a significant role in any extradition process. In an email to SaharaReporters, Mr. Carr explained that “within [existing] statutory and treaty framework, US practice is, generally, to extradite its citizens, assuming that the requirements of the treaty are met.” He added, “The fact of dual nationality with Nigeria would be irrelevant in this context.” Article 8 of the extradition treaty “specifies that extraditions will comply with the laws of the requested country, i.e., the place where the fugitive is found,” Mr. Carr further stated in his email to SaharaReporters. An interview with Mr. Obanikoro was published today on news website Premium Times where he dared the Nigerian government to extradite him from the US. In the interview he said “they [Nigerian authorities] will never attempt any extradition. I, Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, am inviting EFCC to petition America to extradite me to Nigeria. The whole world would now see their charade for what it is.” Mr. Obanikoro then complimented the US judicial system saying “in Nigeria, you’re either on this side or the other side. But this American system is unbiased. They’re neither for me nor for them. So, let them bring the tissue of lies that they have put together and submit everything to serious judicial scrutiny and let us see whether it will fly. I am inviting them to do that.” Mr. Obanikoro’s latest comments follows a barrage of Tweets following the EFCC raid of his posh Ikoyi residence. In his Twitter rage Mr. Obanikoro again stated his confidence in the US justice system and accused the EFCC of spreading rumor and that President Buhari was a despot. SaharaReporters could not reach Mr. Obanikoro for comment on this |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by MadamExcellency: 8:16pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
Why? Is he no longer US citizen? |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by project8(m): 8:27pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
MadamExcellency:us dnt need a lousy mouth in their country. |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by MadamExcellency: 8:33pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
project8: Your reply has no correlation to or with my question. |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by project8(m): 9:08pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
MadamExcellency:madam mayb u cnt comprehend...bt i mean US doesnt need a loud mouthed criminal as her citizen.so weda citizen or not citizen they want him extradited to face corruption charges at home.tnk u 1 Like |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by Compliant(m): 9:20pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
He will become loyal soon 1 Like |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by iKarma: 9:25pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
Expecting him to decamp to APC as soon as he lands ![]() ![]() ![]() He reminds me of an Ibo coward chestbeater. Let him be a yoruba man like Fayose or FFK. 1 Like |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by DaBullIT(m): 9:41pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
MadamExcellency: I don't think he was ever US citizen Let them extradite.l him abeg I love her they sing melodies FFK telling me he didn't know 1.5billion.is government money |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by chachanga: 9:45pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
Ahh, see mugu of life?! He's trusting in US Legal System? He shld better start packing a travelling bag complete with blankets, toiletries, mosquito coils & extra Lipton because he's EFCC Hotel Booking is complete now! ![]() 1 Like |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by Immunity1(f): 10:03pm On Jun 17, 2016 |
They left Nigeria because of their crime and uk and u.S government known this they continue aid thief. |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by MadamExcellency: 1:55am On Jun 18, 2016 |
DaBullIT: He is an honorary citizen of Glenarden, Maryland and Little Rock, Arkansas. |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by iKarma: 1:56am On Jun 18, 2016 |
MadamExcellency: Naturalization is not permanent. Honourary ko Hungary ni. I don't understand how you lots celebrate theives. |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by MadamExcellency: 2:00am On Jun 18, 2016 |
iKarma: You are most stupid person ever on Nairaland that deserve not to quote my comments. What relevance is your reply to my question? Get lost |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by iKarma: 2:03am On Jun 18, 2016 |
MadamExcellency: Lol NL version of Obanikoro ![]() |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by MadamExcellency: 2:08am On Jun 18, 2016 |
iKarma: iKarma: With your obsession on discussing people, tribal differences and such which are 100% in contrast to my values of discussing substances, ideas and alternatives, we are parallel lines hence never quote my comment again. Moreover, you sound frustrated and insecure |
Re: Obanikoro Can Be Extradited-us Justice Department by iKarma: 2:12am On Jun 18, 2016 |
MadamExcellency: Too much grammar. I wouldn't be surprised if you're IPOB cum rented protester for Obanikoro. Here's the post that got you spitting: Naturalization is not permanent. |
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