An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday ordered the extradition to the United States a 32-year old Nigerian man, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi (alias Ayatollah), suspected to be an al-Qaeda member.
Babafemi is wanted in the US for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities in which the Nigerian Government filed an application in March seeking to extradite him.
His lawyer, Olorun Ajeh, told the court that he will not contest the application but want the court to note that his client has been in custody of the State Security Service (SSS) for the past 24 months.
Babefemi told the court that he has no objection to the government’s move to extradite him.
In his ruling, Justice A.R Mohammed ordered that Babafemi be extradited to face the terrorism charges against him.
Mohammed said Babafemi will be surrendered to US authorities not later than 15 days from day of the order.
Counsel to the federal government, Muslim Hassan, tendered before the court letters of certification from the Department of State, signed by the US Secretary of State, John Terry as well as another from the US Department of Justice, signed by Attorney General Eric Holder.
According to documents filed by the government in support of the application, Babafemi is facing a four-count charge of terrorist related offenses before the US District Court of the Eastern District of New York.
He is charged with “conspiracy to provide support to a foreign terrorist organisation, provision and attempted provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, unlawful use of firearms and conspiracy to unlawfully use firearms.”
Babafemi is also alleged to have travelled to Yemen between January 2010 and August 2011 to train with al-Qaeda and relate with its senior members, including the now deceased Anwar al-Aulaqi and Samir Khan.
He is also said to have admitted, upon interrogation that he was paid about $8,600 by the al-Qaeda Arabian Peninsula to return to Nigeria and recruit English speaking individuals to work in the English language media section of the organization.
daily trust
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