FG Agrees To Extradite Abba Kyari To US Over Hushpuppi Fraud
GoldenNewsNg reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the request by the United States government for the extradition of the disgraced Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
This online news recalls that Abba Kyari was accused of committing wife fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
Kyari was also accused of working with Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to Internet fraud.
A grand jury in April 2021 filed an indictment against Kyari 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 (SAN), on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 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, IO Nigeria reports.
Malami said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.
Recently, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also secured the arrest and detention of Kyari and five other officers in connection with a drug deal.
The AGF in the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, stated that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.
Malami also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari 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.
The AGF added that Kyari, “if surrendered, will not be prejudiced at his trial and will not be punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty, by reason of his race, nationality or political opinions”.
Malami 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.
The AGF said he was also satisfied that Kyari has been accused of the offence for which his surrender is sought.
Malami noted that there was no criminal proceeding pending against Kyari in Nigeria for the same offence.
According to court documents, 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.”
In the request for Kyari’s extradition, the U.S. Embassy stated: “On April 29, 2021, based on the indictment filed by the grand jury and with the approval of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a deputy clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari.
“The arrest warrant remains valid and executable to apprehend Kyari for the crimes with which he is charged in the indictment.
“Kyari is wanted to stand trial in the United States for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and identity theft.
“Kyari is the subject of an indictment in case Number 2:21-cr-00203 (also referred to as 2:21-MJ-00760 and 2:21-CR-00203-RGK), filed April 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.”
The embattled “super-cop” has challenged the order made on February 22 by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abuja empowering NDLEA to detain him for 14 days in the first instance.
Abba Kyari in an application filed by his lawyers, wants the court to set aside the order for his detention, arguing that the order was issued without him being accorded a fair hearing.
Meanwhile, GoldenNewsNg reports that the court has scheduled a hearing in Kyari’s application for March 8.
