FG begins extradition of Abba Kyari to U.S., seeks court order

The Federal Government has formally begun the process of extraditing the indicted former Commander of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, to the United States for trial.

The US had requested that Kyari should be extradited over alleged $1.1 million wire fraud involving convicted Internet fraudster, Abass Ramon aka Hushpuppi, and four others.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in an application filed on Tuesday before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, acknowledged that government had given approval for the extradition of Kyari.

In the application marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, and filed under the Extradition Act, Malami said the application was necessitated by a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

The request is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”

The AGF said he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

He 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.

READ: Hushpuppi: Abba Kyari may be extradited to United States – Malami

“If surrendered, he 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.

He added that 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.

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.

The US charges against him read, “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.”