An official at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Peter Carr, has stated that the US government is ready to extradite its citizens to countries it has signed a treaty with.

Nigeria's former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro had recently dared the Nigerian government to extradite him to Nigeria to stand trial for fraud accusations leveled against him.

Obanikoro left Nigeria for the United States following the defeat of PDP by the APC in the last presidential elections.

Questions have been raised as to whether he is eligible for extradition from the United States owing to reports that he holds American citizenship.

However, Peter Carr, said Obanikoro could be successfully extradited by the Nigerian government.

In an email he 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.”

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.

Also, Roger Clark, an international legal expert, made clarifications on United States laws as pertains to the extradition of people who, like Mr. Obanikoro, hold American citizenship.

According to him, “the United States has no problem extraditing its nationals provided there is a treaty.”

A treaty 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.


Sahara Reporters