A judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, has ordered the extradition of Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi to the United Kingdom to face trial over alleged murder and drug-related offences.
Naija News reports that Justice Faji delivered the ruling in suit number FHC/L/CS/416/2025, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The court held that the Attorney-General had satisfied the statutory requirements under Nigeria’s Extradition Act for the surrender of the respondent.
Court documents revealed that the extradition request followed a formal demand from UK authorities, where Adebiyi is wanted in connection with two criminal complaints bordering on homicide and narcotics offences.
The request was supported by an authenticated arrest warrant issued by a magistrates’ court in Croydon, United Kingdom.
Counsel to the Federal Government argued that Adebiyi qualified as a fugitive criminal under the Extradition Act and that the court’s responsibility was limited to determining whether a prima facie case existed and whether legal requirements for extradition had been met.
However, the respondent, through his lawyer, opposed the application, contending that extradition would violate his constitutional rights to fair hearing, personal liberty and dignity.
The defence further argued that no properly domesticated extradition treaty existed between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. It maintained that the London Scheme for Extradition within the Commonwealth was merely administrative and not legally binding.
The defendant also cited his medical condition as a ground for refusing his surrender.
In his ruling, Justice Faji struck out portions of the respondent’s counter-affidavit, describing them as legal arguments improperly presented as evidence, in violation of the Evidence Act.
The court held that the alleged offences were extraditable and recognised under Nigerian law. It also found that the arrest warrant and supporting documents substantially complied with statutory requirements.
On the issue of treaty domestication, the judge ruled that the Commonwealth extradition framework had been sufficiently incorporated into Nigerian law through the Extradition Act and was therefore binding.
Justice Faji dismissed objections based on health grounds, noting that medical evidence before the court did not show that the respondent was unfit to travel or incapable of receiving treatment abroad.
Emphasising that extradition proceedings do not determine guilt, the judge stated that Nigeria must honour its international obligations and should not serve as a refuge for fugitives.
The court consequently granted the application and ordered Adebiyi’s surrender to the United Kingdom for prosecution.
