President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has applied to commence the extradition process of suspended deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Specifically, the regime, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), filed the application on Wednesday marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022.

It was filed under the Extradition Act as part of the Nigerian government’s approval of the request by the U. S. for Mr Kyari’s extradition.

Mr Kyari, ex-head of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, is 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 fraudster Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

On April 29, 2021, a grand jury had filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

AGF Abubakar Malami filed the application before the chief judge of the FHC, John Tsoho, for Mr Kyari’s extradition. Mr Malami explained that the application followed a request by the U.S. embassy. 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, Mr Malami stated that he was satisfied that provision was made by the laws of the U.S. such that so long as Mr 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.

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.

Mr Malami stated that regarding all the circumstances in which the offence was committed, it would not be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment, to extradite Mr Kyari.

He stated 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 U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

However, the case had yet to be assigned to a judge at the time of filing this report.

Mr Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

(NAN)