Accused Jamaican-born drug lord, Christopher `Dudus` Coke, also nicknamed the President of Jamaica, could soon be on his way to the U.S. to face drug charges.

After months of wrangling with the U.S. and almost losing his own post, Jamaica Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, on Monday night announced that the country`s Minister of Justice, Dorothy Lightbourne, “will sign the authorization for the extradition process to commence.”

He gave no exact date of the signing.

Golding made the statement in an address to the nation almost a week after his admission in Parliament that he sanctioned attempts through his Jamaica Labor Party to lobby the U.S. government through the engagement of the U.S. law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to drop its extradition request for Coke.

Golding said the JLP paid the law firm over US$67,000, which he said was financed by party donors.

Amidst numerous calls from various sectors of the country for his resignation, Golding on Monday begged for forgiveness from nationals, while admitting that the way the Coke extradition request of last August was handled “has raised the question of trust.”

“I crave your understanding,” said the PM, adding that his the government has never refused the request for the extradition of Coke but asked the U.S. authorities to provide additional information that would enable the minister to issue the authorization in compliance with the terms of the treaty.

Golding had insisted that the U.S. evidence against Coke, the alleged leader of the notorious Shower Posse, was obtained illegally in direct contradiction of Jamaica`s laws that makes wiretapping illegal.

“In the controversy that has ensued, we sought the opinion of one of Jamaica`s most eminent lawyers, Dr. Lloyd Barnett, who advised that the issues involved were not sufficiently settled in law, and therefore the Attorney-General should seek a declaration from the Court before exercising her authority,” explained Golding as he tried hard to convince angry nationals to give him another chance to redeem himself.

He admitted that the perception that because Coke is associated with his constituency, the government`s position was politically contrived, was unavoidable but said he “felt that the concepts of fairness and justice should not be sacrificed in order to avoid that perception.”

“In the final analysis, however, that must be weighed against the public mistrust that this matter has evoked and the destabilizing effect it is having on the nation`s business,” said Golding, in acceding to the order.

He added that the country`s business cannot continue to be disrupted and distracted by the ordeal of the last several months and pledged to work to fast track measures to reverse the institutionalization of political tribalism and garrisons; include provisions for the impeachment of public officials and term limits for the office of prime minister.

Coke controls Golding’s constituency of Tivoli Gardens, and west and south Kingston and the Shower Posse is widely claimed to be affiliated with the JLP.

Jamaican Posse members are known for gun battles with the police and drive-by shootings in disputes with rival gangs over drug turf. Posse members are known for ritualized killings of members who “rip off” profits on drugs. The killing ritual usually involves the shooting of the individual five times; four to the chest and one to the head. Other ritual violent acts have included the use of laundry irons, chainsaws, hammer and nails and butcher`s knives.

The U.S. State Department has said the delay in extraditing Coke, as well as a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests, raised “serious questions” about the Jamaican government`s commitment to combating transnational crime.

Coke, 40, was indicted last August in a U.S. court with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms.

If convicted on the narcotics charge, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $4 million or twice the pecuniary gain from the offense. He also faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the firearms trafficking charge, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the fiscal gain.