Calls Made for CCJ President to Recuse Himself By Lawyers Representing Guyana's Opposition leader
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Lawyers representing Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his businessman father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, are calling on the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) not to allow its president, Justice Winston Anderson to take part in proceedings against their clients until allegations of bias are addressed.
The attorneys – Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva – have sent an August 14, 2026 letter to the Registrar of the CCJ, Guyana’s highest and final court, indicating that the Mohameds were “deeply disturbed and distressed by the allegations and have formed the strong and reasonable view that they may not have received the fair hearing which is constitutionally guaranteed to them”.
The letter has been copied to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall as well as the attorneys for the Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond and the Chief Magistrate, Judy Latchman.
On July 29, 2026, the CCJ ruled against the Mohameds, dismissing their appeal and lifting an interim stay, clearing the way for the local magistrates’ court to resume extradition committal proceedings requested by the United States.
The Mohameds are wanted by US law enforcement officials on money laundering, wire fraud and mail fraud linked to their gold trading business.
Their lawyers have said that if a set of documents and other material are not provided legal action would be taken. The move by the Mohameds follows reports of Justice Anderson’s interaction last year with President Irfaan Ali and then Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton regarding the appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary.
Last weekend Justice Anderson, in addressing concerns about the Mohameds’ case, said there were robust and candid exchanges among the judges during deliberations and preparation of the judgement, as with many other cases in appellate courts in the Commonwealth.
He said in the Mohameds case, the judges expressed differing views regarding aspects of the reasoning and the manner in which certain issues should be articulated in the final judgment
In the end, he said there was “COMPLETE UNANIMITY” among all seven judges as to the disposition of the appeal.
“No Judge worthy of being on the CCJ Bench would ever allow himself or herself to be unduly influenced by any other Judge including the President,” Justice Anderson wrote in his nine-page response to the leaked internal correspondence that formed a Sunday Express newspaper story earlier this month.
But in their letter, the attorneys wrote that “given the exceptional urgency of these matters, we request that the information and materials sought be provided within seven (7) days of the date hereof, so that our clients may consider any necessary steps as may be required failing which our clients reserve the right to institute such proceedings and seek such relief as may be appropriate”.
They said that in order to properly advise their clients so that he “could make an intelligent and informed decision on possible legal recourse and in the interests of fairness and the good administration of justice” they are requesting a “full and frank disclosure” of all information, emails, correspondence, documents and other materials which may be evidence or suggest any alleged impropriety by the president of the CCJ or any other CCJ judge.
The attorneys say the request extends, in particular, to all such material touching or concerning the consideration, deliberation, determination or disposition of any issue arising in the appeal of their clients.
“Accordingly, and without prejudging the truth of Mr. Norton’s allegations, our clients respectfully request that Justice Anderson take no further part in any proceedings concerning our clients unless and until these matters have been fully addressed and resolved,” the lawyers said.
The extradition hearings are set to resume next month before Magistrate Latchman.
