Nigeria has approved the request by the United States (US) for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.
By Emma Ogbuehi
It is more trouble for the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari as the Federal Government approved the request by the United States of America for his extradition. Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi to commit the crime.
A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The process for the approval of the US request commenced on Tuesday when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), 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”.
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.
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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.
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 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.
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.”
At home, Kyari, the suspended head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and members of his gang are facing trial over involvement in cocaine deal.
Kyari was caught in a video offering $61,400 (N35m) in bribe to an NDLEA agent. The bribe was to under-declare a seized cocaine that Abba Kyari claimed his team of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) intercepted from cocaine couriers.
