From all indications, the federal government of Nigeria may have initiated the process to extradite the suspended deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Abba Kyari to the United States to stand trial for fraud. The police officer popularly known as ‘super cop’ in Nigeria unknown to Nigerians was involved in all manners of illicit businesses with some of the most questionable characters.
It would be recalled that in July 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicted Kyari in a $1.1 million fraud involving known cyber fraudster Abbas Olorunwa, also known as Hushpuppi. He is also facing separate drug charges in Nigeria after being accused by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of being a member of an international drug cartel.
As the case rages on with the United States authorities requesting his extradition The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami had yesterday (Wednesday) 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. Malami said the application followed a request by the diplomatic representative of the US embassy in Abuja.
”It is for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment,” he said. In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, Malami said he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari is being surrendered was not political or trivial. The attorney general also said 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 in the interest of justice.
He said 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.” He further said with 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 also said there is no criminal proceeding pending against Kyari in Nigeria for the same offence.
In April 2021, a jury filed a petition against Kyari with the approval of the US district court and demanded that he stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. 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.”
