FG approves US request for Abba Kyari’s extradition

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the request of the United States of America for the extradition of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, over the alleged $1.1 million wire fraud carried out by Abass Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi, and four others.

This approval was made known by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Thursday when he 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. The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”, the AGP was quoted to have said.
Malami in the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application said he was satisfied that the offence for which Kyari’s extradition was sought is neither political nor trivial.

The AGF also maintained that the US 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, 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.
He added that surrendering the embattled police officer to the US government won’t be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment considering the circumstances in which the offence was committed.

Kyari was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi to commit the crime. In April 2021, a jury filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S District Court for the central district of California demanding that He stands trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

The charges against Kyari 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”