The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said that the Federal Government is working with the United States on the “possible extradition” of the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari.
KanyiDaily recalls that in July 2019, a US court had ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to arrest Abba Kyari for his alleged role in a $1.1millon scam allegedly perpetrated by suspected fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
The FBI Special Agent, Andrew Innocenti, had alleged that Hushpuppi contracted the services of Kyari after a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Vincent, allegedly threatened to expose the alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.
Innocenti, who said he obtained voice calls and WhatsApp conversations between Kyari and Hushpuppi, had also alleged that the latter paid the police officer N8m or $20,600 for the arrest and detention of Vincent.
However, Abba Kyari had denied the allegations in a post shared on his Facebook page on July 29, 2021, but he was later suspended by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, who also constituted a panel to probe the allegations.
Malami Says Abba Kyari May Be Extradited To US
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, the attorney-general said the panel has established “reasonable ground for suspicion” which could lead Kyari’s extradition.
Malami said, “There are a lot of issues that are ongoing, inclusive of the possibility of consideration for extradition and associated things. That is where the collaboration element of it comes into play in respect of all the two cases.”
Asked if there is a possibility of extradition, the minister said: “there could be a need or perhaps the possibility of making such request and they are looking into it.”
Asked if the extradition request has been made, Malami said discussions on the matter are ongoing.
He said, “As far as I’m concerned, the parties are discussing, the parties are collaborating and there is an exchange of correspondence from the perspective of investigation, from the perspective of extradition, and associated things.
“You can’t find someone guilty but perhaps the reasonable ground for suspicion can be established, which would translate to prosecution.
“That is what we are talking of — reasonable grounds for suspicion. Reasonable grounds for suspicion has been established; that will eventually translate to the possibility of prosecution and eventually conviction if indeed at the end of the day, one is adjudged guilty by the court of law.
“The position now is that there is prima facie reasonable ground for suspicion that has been considered from the perspective of prosecution, and for extradition if the need for so doing arises. That is what is unfolding in terms of international collaboration.”
KanyiDaily recalls that the FBI had also revealed how Abba Kyari left his official activities in Nigeria and flew to Dubai to enjoy a lavish lifestyle with Hushpuppi.
