The Federal Government approved the United States of America’s request on Thursday for suspended Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, to be extradited in connection with the $1.1 million wire fraud perpetrated by Abass Ramon aka Hushpuppi and four others.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), revealed the government’s approval when he filed an application for Kyari’s extradition before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The application, entitled FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, was made in accordance with the Extradition Act.
According to the AGF, the application was made in response to a request from the Diplomatic Representative of the United States Embassy in Abuja.
The request is for “the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a defendant in a superseding three-count indictment.”
The AGF stated that he was satisfied that the offense for which Kyari was apprehended was neither political nor insignificant.
The AGF was also pleased that the request for Kyari’s surrender was made in good faith and in the interest of justice, rather than to harass or punish him because of his race, religion, nationality, or political ideas.
Kyari, he stated, “would not be biased during his trial and will not be punished, detained, or restricted in his personal liberty because of his ethnicity, nationality, or political ideas if surrendered.”
According to the AGF, given all of the circumstances surrounding the offense, surrendering him will neither be unjust or burdensome, nor will it be an overly harsh punishment.
Malami further stated that he is satisfied that Kyari has been charged with the crime for which his surrender is requested.
He pointed out that Kyari was not facing any criminal charges in Nigeria for the same offense.
Remember that in April 2021, a jury returned an indictment against Kyari with the permission of the United States District Court, demanding that he stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
As a result, the US Embassy requested Kyari’s extradition, stating, “On April 29, 2021, a deputy clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari based on the indictment filed by the grand jury and with the permission of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.”
“The arrest warrant remains valid and executable in order to apprehend Kyari for the offences stated in the indictment.”
“Kyari is wanted in the United States on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.”
“Kyari is the subject of an indictment in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in case number 2:21-cr-00203 (also known as 2:21-MJ-00760 and 2:21-CR-00203-RGK), filed April 29, 2021.”
Kyari was charged with plotting to perpetrate the crime with a Nigerian living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ramon Abbas, alias Hushpuppi.
“Count one: Conspiracy to conduct wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, with 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), punishable by up to 20 years in prison.”
“Count three: Aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting such offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), punishable by up to two years in prison.”