Nigeria has agreed to extradite suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, as requested by the United States.
Kyari is wanted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, among other charges.
He was accused of committing the crime with Ramon Abbas, called Hushpuppi, a Nigerian living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Last April 29, a grand jury indicted Kyari, with the approval of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, had filed an application for Kyari’s extradition before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Extradition Act was used to file the FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 application.
The application was made in response to a request from the US Embassy’s Diplomatic Representative in Abuja, according to the AGF.
A snapshot of Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police, and Ramon Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, an alleged fraudster.
It’s “in exchange for Abba Alhaji Kyari’s surrender, who is the subject of a superseding three-count indictment.”
The AGF stated in an affidavit filed in support of the extradition application that he is satisfied that the laws of the United States provide that, as long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity to return to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any crime committed before his surrender other than the extradition offense that can be proven by the fact that his surrender is sought.
He went on to say that he was confident that the crime for which Kyari’s surrender is sought is neither political nor minor.
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 beliefs.
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”.
According to the AGF, surrendering him will not be unjust or burdensome, nor would it be an excessive punishment, given the circumstances of the crime.
Malami further stated that Kyari has been charged with the crime for which his surrender is being sought.
He added that Kyari was not facing any criminal charges in Nigeria for the same offense.
The three-count accusation, numbered 2:21-cr-00203-RGK, was filed before the US District Court for the Central District of California, USA, on April 29, 2021, according to court filings.
The charge submitted with the extradition request goes as follows:
Count one: conspiring to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison;
Count two: Conspiracy to launder money in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h), which carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
Count three: Aggravated identity theft, as well as aiding and abetting that crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), punishable by up to two years in prison.
“On April 29, 2021, based on the indictment submitted by the grand jury and with the permission 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 US Embassy claimed in its request for Kyari’s extradition.
“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.”
