The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday reserved its judgment in the appeal involving Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, following a grueling five-hour hearing that centered on allegations of government bias and the “proper behavior” of the state’s chief legal advisor.
The proceedings concluded with a stern reminder from CCJ President, the Hon. Justice Winston Anderson, regarding the professional responsibilities of legal counsel in the public domain. While the court deliberates on the substantive appeal, an interim stay on the Mohameds’ extradition proceedings remains in effect.
“The Elephant in the Room”
The hearing took a turn when the bench addressed what Justice Anderson termed the “elephant in the room”: the public utterances of Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC.
The Mohameds are challenging the “Authority to Proceed” (ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond in October 2025, which triggered their extradition process to the United States. Their legal team, led by Fyard Hosein, SC, argues that the process is tainted by political bias, citing repeated public criticisms by both the Attorney General and Minister Walrond, specifically during the 2025 general election campaign.
Justice Anderson questioned whether it was “best practice” for the Chief Legal Adviser to the Government to make such statements, even while acknowledging that allegations against the appellants are already in the public domain.
“There is a difference between other members of the government making statements and the Honourable Attorney General… making statements,” Justice Anderson noted. “We are just wondering whether [this] is the best practice for the kind of society and democracy that we seek to encourage in Guyana.”
The panel of judges expressed concern over how these comments might affect public confidence. Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji questioned if the AG’s “running commentary” on the case served the administration of justice. “Is there something to be said that it is part of the job of the AG to bring the population back to say, look, respect the process… rather than making comments that might add to that negative public view?” Justice Eboe-Osuji asked.
Similarly, Justice Arif Bulkan observed that the Attorney General’s defense at times seemed to reduce the legal inquiry to “political rivalry” rather than addressing the core issue of whether the extradition outcome had been prematurely projected.
Nandlall Defends “Context”
Attorney General Nandlall denied any impropriety, maintaining that his comments were made within the context of a heated political campaign and in response to public interest. He clarified that he was referring to the Mohameds’ status regarding sanctions by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
“Let me assure you that the Attorney General did not make any improper comments,” Nandlall told the court, arguing that while his views may be “disputed and used for political purposes,” they were not improper. He further contended that he was not the decision-maker in the extradition request, as that power rested solely with the Minister of Home Affairs.
Path Forward
The Mohameds are seeking to face a “neutral” decision-maker. Their counsel suggested to the court that the issuance of the ATP should be remitted to an impartial alternative official. The appellants are currently facing an 11-count criminal indictment in the U.S., including allegations of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering. In his closing remarks, Justice Anderson emphasized that while the court does not seek to “regulate free speech,” counsel must avoid statements that could undermine the fairness of proceedings. “We hope that this issue does not arise for any further comment by this court,” the President stated. “I am very sure counsel understands the need for proper behavior in this regard.” The CCJ will deliver its decision on a date to be announced. Until then, the extradition committal proceedings before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman remain frozen.
