The Nigerian Government has commenced the process to extradite the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, to the United States of America for trial over alleged fraud and abuse of office.
Kyari was named as an accomplice by Abbas Ramon, aka Hushpuppi in a fraud case, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had requested for Kyari’s extradition so he could face trial in the U.S.
Kyari, the suspended head of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), is wanted due to his alleged involvement in a $1.1 million internet scam carried out by Hushpuppi, and four others.
The approval for Kyari’s extradition was facilitated by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), in an application he recently filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, giving the government’s approval for the extradition to be done.
In the application marked “FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 filed under the Extradition Act,” Malami said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
Part of the request read: “The request is for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment.”
Also, Malami expressed that the government is satisfied 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.”
“If surrendered, the subject 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,” the letter noted.
Abba Kyari’s problem started in April 2021, when a US jury filed an indictment against him at a US District Court to demand his extradition so he could be tried for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
The US Embassy sent a request to the Nigerian government for Kyari’s extradition in a letter dated April 29, 2021.
Due to the indictment filed by the grand jury and with the approval of the US district court for the Central District of California, a warrant of arrest for Kyari was issued.
The warrant read: “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.”
Some of the charges levelled against Kyari were:
“Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years;
“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.
“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.”
