HeadlineTerrorism: Court Okays Extradition Of Nigerian Al-Qaeda Suspect

Terrorism: Court Okays Extradition Of Nigerian Al-Qaeda Suspect

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… Extradiction Follows Indictment By US Federal Court

SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, (THEWILL) – A Nigerian terror suspect, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, a.k.a Abdullah Ayatollah Mustapher, 33, who is wanted in the United States of America for alleged terrorist acts is to be extradited to that country.

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered that the suspect be extradited as requested in an application by the Federal Government.

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Neither the suspect nor his counsel suspect opposed the extradition move.

While ruling on the federal government’s application to extradite the suspect, Justice Mohammed said: “The respondent, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, aka Abdullah Ayatollah Mustapher, is not contesting these proceedings which are meant to extradite him to the United States of America.

“The respondent solicitor only urged the court to take into account the fact that the respondent has been in the custody of State Security Service for over 24 calendar months, that the respondent has cooperated with the local authorities in Nigeria.

“Since there is no form of any objection by the respondent, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi aka Abdullah Ayatollah Mustapher, to the application for his extradiction, this court is satisfied that the application by the Attorney General for the extradiction of the respondent to the United States of America is proper and in accordance with the Extradiction Act 2004.

“An order is hereby made that the respondent in this case, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi aka Abdullah Ayatollah be extradited to the United States of America to face the indictment against him.

“It is also ordered that the respondent, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi aka Abdullah Ayatollah shall be surrendered to the officials of the United States of America not later than 15 days from the order of this court.

“The respondent shall remain in the custody of the State Security Service of the Federation pending his surrender and eventual extradition to the United States of America.”

It would be recalled tat in August, the Federal Government ad initiated the extraction proceedings against Babafemi who is suspected to be member of al-Qaeda.

An application was subsequently made to a Federal High Court in Abuja for his extradition to the United States, where he is wanted for alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities.

Counsel to the government, in the application , had exhibited a four-count charge marked:13CR-109-JG, filed against him before the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York and a bench warrant issued for his arrest by a US magistrate.

The 32- year-old Nigerian was 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.”

The offences, on conviction, attract a minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of life imprisonment.

Babafemi, who was based in the US, fled to Nigeria when he was to be arrested by men of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI but was subsequently arrested in Nigeria and is being held by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Documents filed by the federal government before the Abuja court revealed that the US authorities were of the view that Babafemi belonged to the “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),” an affiliate of al-Qaeda.

He was alleged to have travelled to Yemen between January 2010 and August 2011 to train with the group and relate with its senior members, including the late Anwar al-Aulaqi and Samir Khan.

The suspect was also said to have admitted, upon interrogation, that he was paid about $8,600 by the AQAP to return to Nigeria and recruit some English-speaking individuals to work in AQAP’s English language media organisation.

The media organisation is believed to serve as the organisation’s medium of radicalising English speakers, whom it recruits to commit terrorist attacks on its behalf.

The group had claimed responsibility for series of terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2009 bombing attempt in the U.S. by a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

A Brooklyn, New York, USA, Federal Court had indicted the Nigerian over providing material support to a al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and using high powered firearms in furtherance of the crime.

A release emailed to THEWILL by the US government on Wednesday said, “The United States is currently seeking the extradition of the defendant, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, also known as “Abdullah” and “Ayatollah Mustapha,” from Nigeria. At the request of the United States, the Nigerian government thereafter commenced extradition proceedings against the defendant in July 2013.”

The release further said, “The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division; and George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office. United States Attorney Lynch acknowledged the continued cooperation and assistance of the government of Nigeria in terrorism matters affecting both nations.

“According to court documents, between approximately January 2010 and August 2011, the defendant traveled twice from Nigeria to Yemen to meet and train with leaders of AQAP, the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda. Babafemi assisted in AQAP’s English-language media operations, which include the publication of the magazine “Inspire.”

At the direction of the now-deceased senior AQAP commander Anwar al-Aulaqi, Babafemi was provided by AQAP leadership with the equivalent of almost $9,000 in cash to recruit other English-speakers from Nigeria to join that group. While in Yemen, Babafemi also received weapons training from AQAP.

“The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zainab Ahmad and Hilary Jager, with assistance from Trial Attorney William M. Narus of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section and Trial Attorney Timothy Hammer of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.”

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