US government is ready to extradite Obanikoro

The United States government is ready to extradite its citizens to

countries it has signed a treaty with, according to Peter Carr, an

official at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

Mr. Carr said that the embattled former Nigerian minister Musiliu

Obanikoro could be successfully extradited by the Nigerian government,

Sahara Reporters informs.

In an email he clarified that " within [existing] statutory and treaty

framework, US practice is, generally, to extradite its citizens,

assuming that the requirements of the treaty are met. The fact of dual

nationality with Nigeria would be irrelevant in this context."



On his own part, Roger Clark, an international legal expert, made

explanations on United States laws as refers to the extradition of

people who, like Mr. Obanikoro, hold American citizenship.

He stated: " The United States has no problem extraditing its

nationals provided there is a treaty."

A pact between Nigeria and the United States exists, he said, adding

that it was signed into force in 1935 when Nigeria was still under

colonial control by Great Britain.

Ex-minister, who served under the government of former president

Goodluck Jonathan, had recently dared Muhammadu Buhari to extradite

him to Nigeria to stand trial for fraud charges filed against him.

Obanikoro left Nigeria for the United States after the defeat of PDP

by the APC in the last presidential poll.

He is being probed on allegations of official misconduct and illegal

contract splitting.

Meanwhile, the politician said he was not aware of any probe into his

activities when he held different ministerial portfolios during

Jonathan tenure.