Mohameds seek CCJ President Winston Anderson’s recusal in extradition proceedings

(Kaieteur News) Attorneys representing Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar Mohamed have called on the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson, to recuse himself from all proceedings concerning their clients, citing former internal judicial leaks and grave allegations of political maneuvering in Guyana. In a 14-page letter dispatched […] The post Mohameds call on CCJ President to recuse self from extradition case appeared first on Kaieteur News.

Attorneys for Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar, are reportedly demanding that Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Justice Winston Anderson step aside from all proceedings involving their clients. Trinidad and Tobago’s Daily Express newspaper reported Tuesday that it had obtained a letter, dated Friday, August 14, 2026, in which the attorneys called for full disclosure of internal communications and records, citing allegations of judicial impropriety and political involvement that they say strike at the heart of the court’s credibility. The Mohameds are currently challenging their extradition to the United States on charges of fraud and money laundering. The Express reported that the letter was sent to the CCJ’s registrar and chief marshal on the same day that Justice Anderson issued a nine-page statement denying allegations of panel-fixing and attempts to influence the outcomes of cases, while acknowledging that he may have handled the issue of a controversial judicial dress code for judges “too strongly”. READ:  CCJ responds to allegations made in Trinidad newspaper Anderson’s statement followed a series of exclusive stories by the Express over the last week, in which these allegations were raised in an exchange of e-mail among fellow CCJ judges. According to the Express, the attorneys’ letter, led by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, drew attention to a news conference held by People’s National Congress (PNC) leader Aubrey Norton on August 11, 2026, at which he alleged that Justice Anderson had personally engaged him in discussions about replacing acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings Edwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane George Wiltshire with government-favoured candidates. Norton alleged that Justice Anderson told him that Cummings Edwards was “satisfied with the package she got from government” and had agreed to step aside. He further claimed that Justice Anderson pressed him to approve the appointments of George Wiltshire as Chancellor and Navindra Singh as Chief Justice. “Norton said Justice Anderson insisted he had been present with Guyana’s president during discussions and even suggested that Norton could ‘put [his] name in the history books’ by resolving the judicial impasse. Norton concluded that the exchanges left him with ‘no confidence’ in the CCJ,” the Express report said. In his statement last Friday, Justice Anderson dismissed the allegation, stating that he had no personal interest or preference in who is appointed Chancellor or Chief Justice of Guyana. “My concern has always and only been confined to the constitutional principle that the judiciary should be headed by substantively appointed office holders enjoying the full constitutional protections intended by the framers of the Constitution,” he said. The Express report said that the Mohameds’ lawyers contended that if Norton’s account is true, Anderson’s involvement in partisan negotiations violated the Constitution. “Such an intervention would be irresponsible, improper, and wholly unwarranted,” the newspaper quoted the letter, adding that it went on to caution that it risked creating the impression that the CCJ presidency was used to advance the ruling party’s objectives. “They emphasised that the CCJ president had no lawful role in the appointment of Guyana’s Chancellor or Chief Justice, positions that require agreement between the President and Opposition Leader under Article 127(1) of the Constitution,” the Express report stated. The story also said that the attorneys insisted that the allegations cannot be ignored while the CCJ adjudicates politically sensitive Guyanese litigation. According to the Express, the lawyers called on Justice Anderson to provide a written response, admitting or denying whether he discussed judicial appointments with political actors, communicated with Norton, or facilitated negotiations concerning Justice Cummings Edwards’ departure. The letter demanded “full and frank disclosure” of all e-mails, correspondence, and documents touching on the Mohameds’ appeal or Justice Anderson’s alleged political activities. “It specifically called for the preservation of telephone records, diary entries, itineraries, and meeting notes involving Justice Anderson, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, the Attorney General, and other Government and judicial officials. The attorneys set a seven-day deadline, warning that failure to comply may force them to seek formal relief through the courts,” the Express reported. “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 letter added.