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The Federal Government of Nigeria has started the process to extradite the former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari following a request by the United States.
The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police was accused of taking bribes from confessed internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
A grand jury on the 29th of April, 2021 had filed an indictment against the embattled police officer with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami on Wednesday, filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.
The application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 was filed under the Extradition Act.
According to Malami, the application was filed before the court following a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
The minister said, “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.
Malami in the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application noted that he is satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the U.S. such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.
He further stated that he is satisfied that the charges levelled against Kyari are not political nor is it trivial.
The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for Kyari’s extradition was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest of justice
He added that Kyari, “if surrendered, will not be prejudiced at his trial and will not be punished, detained or restricted in his liberty, because of his race, nationality or political opinions”.
The AGF said having regard to all the circumstances in which the offence was committed, it will not be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment, to surrender him.
Malami said he was also satisfied that Kyari has been accused of the offence for which his surrender is sought.
He noted that there was no criminal proceeding pending against Kyari in Nigeria for the same offence.
According to court documents, the three count-charge marked: 2:21-cr-00203-RGK, was filed on April 29, 2021, before the US District Court for the Central District of California, USA.
The charge filed along with the extradition application reads
“Count one: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
“Count two: Conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
“Count three: Aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting that offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.”
kyari is currently in the detention of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over a crime related to drug trafficking.
