Audio By Carbonatix
A court in Nigeria has ordered the extradition to the US of a man accused of having links with al-Qaeda and recruiting members to train in Yemen.
Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, also known as Ayatollah Mustapha, will be extradited within 14 days to stand trial in the US, the court ruled.
Mr Babafemi denies being linked to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Nigeria has been hit by an Islamist insurgency since 2009.
The Boko Haram group has carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations in its campaign to create an Islamic state across Nigeria.
Nigerian and US officials have repeatedly accused it of receiving training from foreign groups.
However, there is no suggestion so far that Mr Babafemi was linked to the insurgency in Nigeria.
'Underwear bomber'
Mr Babafemi did not challenge his extradition when he appeared in the High Court in the capital, Abuja.
Court documents alleged that he is an AQAP member who had travelled to Yemen between January 2010 and August 2011 to receive training and to make contact with senior members Anwar al-Awlaqi and Samir Khan.
Al-Awlaqi, a Yemeni-born American cleric, and Khan were subsequently killed in a drone strike.
Mr Babafemi received about $8,600 (£5,500) to "return to Nigeria and recruit English-speaking individuals to work in AQAP's English-language media operation", the documents allege, AFP news agency reports.
He has been charged in the US with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and unlawful use of firearms.
He had been in the custody of Nigeria's intelligence services for two years, his lawyer said.
Mr Babafemi is not the first Nigerian accused of links with AQAP.
Last year, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, dubbed the "underwear bomber", was sentenced to life in prison in the US over his failed attempt to blow up an airliner on Christmas Day 2009.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Russia threatens more Kyiv strikes and tells foreign nationals to leave
12 minutes -
I don’t wish NDC well; they’ve become a menace – Miracles Aboagye on NDC internal tensions
18 minutes -
Oil prices slide on hopes of US-Iran peace deal
27 minutes -
John Mahama receives customized set of golf clubs ahead of 2026 Head of State Invitational Tournament
55 minutes -
‘Recent cedi depreciation within reasonable limits compared to historic rates’ — Prof. Asuming
1 hour -
QNET donates football equipment to S-Inkoom Football Academy
1 hour -
NDC likely to witness fiercest internal contest – Miracles Aboagye
2 hours -
Over 300 actors audition for Big Ghun and Doreen Avio’s ‘Scarlett Unveiled’
2 hours -
MTN introduces 0.75% charges on MoMo-to-bank transfers from June 1
2 hours -
NDC urged to establish clear guidelines to manage growing political ambitions
2 hours -
Tarkwa-Nsuaem teachers declare strike over alleged assault of colleagues by military men
2 hours -
Ghana to ban styrofoam products from January 2027 in major anti-pollution drive
2 hours -
Ghana to host landmark global supply chain summit as EU deforestation deadline looms
3 hours -
Haruna vs Asiedu Nketiah: Tensions could distract gov’t from governance agenda — Dr Osae-Kwapong
3 hours -
NSA releases PIN codes for 18,617 nurses and midwives for 2026/27 national service
3 hours