Nigeria has approved the request by United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
Recall that in July 2021, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicted Kyari in a $1.1 million fraud involving Hushpuppi, self-confessed international fraudster with the approval of U.S. District Court for Central District of California.
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In the request for Kyari’s extradition, the US 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.
However, the suspended police officer denied the allegation, claiming that his “hands are clean”.
In August 2021, Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, received the report of a panel set up to probe the allegation against Kyari.
The report was thereafter sent to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation.
On Wednesday, Malami 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”.
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In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was 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 added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.
The AGF 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.
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He 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.
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 noted that he was also satisfied that Kyari has been accused of the offence for which his surrender is sought.
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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 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.
