A fiery post from Team Mohamed’s, the official page of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political movement, has ignited fresh controversy over government spending, where Guyanese taxpayers are financing the United States’ legal representation in the ongoing extradition case against businessmen Nasar “Shell” Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, the WIN leader.
In a statement posted to social media, Mohamed accused the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration of using public funds to pursue what he calls a campaign of “political persecution” against him and his family.
“HERE IS THE PROOF. The desperate Attorney General and his masters are trying to fool the nation,” the post read. “The payment approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs after consultation with the Attorney General’s office is payment only for the month of October and just for the Jamaican legal team — US$62,556, equivalent to GY$13.5 million.”
Hefty Costs and a Lengthy Fight
Mohamed warned that if the matter extends over a five-year period — “which is common in cases of this nature” — the total legal fees for the Jamaican team alone could exceed GY$810 million.
“This does not include fees for Glen Hanoman and other legal persons working on the case locally,” the post added. “For the month of October 2025, legal fees to the Jamaicans were GY$13.5 million for just one hearing and still failed to remand Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed.”
These figures align with a memorandum from the Finance Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, showing the government approved US$62,588.78 for October to cover legal fees for King’s Counsel Terrence Williams and his Jamaican team, who are representing the United States in the extradition proceedings.
Lobbyist Payments Add Fuel to the Fire
Mohamed also alleged that the PPP government is simultaneously funding a separate lobbying campaign in the United States.
“This is in addition to the US$50,000 per month to the lobbyist firm Continental Strategy, which the PPP government has also contracted solely to go after me. For a six-month renewable contract, this is a total of US$300,000 or GY$66 million,” he stated.
Whistleblowers Inside Government?
In the post, Mohamed claimed that civil servants within key ministries and state institutions are privately opposing what he described as “political victimization.”
“Anil, I want you to know that even the people within the Ministries of Home Affairs and Legal Affairs, as well as the Bank of Guyana, are not pleased with what you and the dictators are doing… and that is why they shared every step with us,” he said, addressing Attorney General Anil Nandlall directly.
He concluded the statement with a pointed appeal:
“Guyanese, this is what the PPP government is doing with your tax dollars — all to go after me. PLEASE PAY THE CITIZENS THEIR CASH GRANT YOU PROMISED.”
Background of the Case
The allegations come amid an ongoing extradition case before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, in which the Mohameds face charges in the U.S. Southern District of Florida for wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and customs violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold smuggling and tax evasion scheme.
The father and son duo were granted $150,000 bail each on October 31 and are represented by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, along with Siand Dhurjon and Darren Wade. The matter has been adjourned to November 24, 2025.
Mounting Public Pressure
The government’s decision to pay foreign lawyers representing U.S. interests has drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum, with many questioning why taxpayers are covering the costs of another country’s prosecution.
The Attorney General’s Chambers has yet to issue an official response to the latest claims. However, with public scrutiny intensifying, the PPP administration faces growing pressure to explain the expenditure and justify its role in what opposition figures are calling a politically charged legal war.
