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Sajid Javid revealed on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that he has already signed Julian Assange's extradition order. The Home Secretary said this morning: "The final decision is now with the courts. I want to see justice done and we have a legitimate extradition request." It is unclear whether the WikiLeaks founder could be sent to Sweden or the US.

Speaking on the Today Programme, Mr Javid said: “He’s rightly behind bars. "There an extradition request from the US that is before the courts tomorrow but yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow.” Thomas Garner, an extradition lawyer, told Express.co.uk that signing off the extradition was a procedural step that is expected. He said: "The extradition request has to come through the Home Office and the request has to be certified.

Julian Assange is set to face an extradition hearing tomorrow

He added that it has "formally started the process", although he conceded we still "have a long way to go" before the outcome of the extradition request is decided. He said it is still "very early days". The WikiLeaks founder is set to face an extradition case management hearing on Friday, which could see him sent to the US to face trial. Last month 17 new charges were filed by the US Justice Department against Assange, accusing of him of conspiring to break into a classified Pentagon computer. The Australian national has been wanted by the US government for nearly a decade, and is accused of breaking the Espionage Act.

Julian Assange is currently serving a 50 week sentence for breaching bail

Mr Assange is currently serving a 50-week sentence for skipping bail in 2012 and fleeing to the Ecuadorean embassy, where he stayed for nearly seven years. Swedish prosecutors are also seeking to issue a new European arrest warrant to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden. Earlier this month they reopened an investigation into rape allegations, made by two Swedish women in 2012. Mr Assange denies the allegations.

Julian Assange faces an extradition hearing tomorrow