On 18 May 2026, The Globe and Mail reported that Ryan O’Grady, a 47-year-old Canadian citizen and former CEO of Kush Bank in South Sudan, had been detained in Dubai since November 2025. On 18 May 2026, the UAE Supreme Court rejected his appeal. Extradition to South Sudan has been approved. This page is for journalists covering the case.
“Absolutely egregious, vendetta-motivated charges by the Government of South Sudan, to which the UAE is cravenly acquiescing. O’Grady has no chance of a fair trial in Juba and Global Affairs Canada should be fighting this energetically.” Nicholas CoghlanFormer Canadian Ambassador to South Sudan. Posted on X, 19 May 2026.
“A major miscarriage of justice.” Nicholas CoghlanFormer Canadian Ambassador to South Sudan. The Globe and Mail, May 2026.
Free for editorial use with credit: “Courtesy of the O’Grady family.” Click any image to download the full-resolution file. For additional photographs or family archive material, email press@bringryanhome.com.
Virginia O’Grady responds personally to journalist inquiries.
press@bringryanhome.comAvailable: interview with Virginia O’Grady, court documents, family archive photographs, timeline of communications with Canadian consular officials.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to support the legal effort: gofund.me/c5334234f.
A full timeline of Ryan’s career and the legal sequence, his official statement dictated through Virginia, and a list of public officials and community voices calling for his return are available on the main campaign site:
