A Federal High Court sitting In Abuja yesterday rejected the extradition application filed by the Nigerian government on behalf of Abba Kyari.
The federal government requested permission to extradite the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kyari to the United States of America (U.S.A).
Remember that the U.S authorities had applied to the Nigerian government for Kyari’s extradition over his alleged link with incarcerated internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas (aka Hushpuppi).
The U.S Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California in Los Angeles confirmed last week that Hushpuppi would be sentenced on September 21, 2022.
In a judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the extradition application filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was an abuse of the court process because Kyari was already standing trial for a criminal offense at a Nigerian court.
Justice Ekwo also held that since the law requires that his fiat be first obtained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before initiating criminal cases, the AGF could not claim to be unaware of the earlier charge filed against Kyari by the agency.
The judge further held that the extradition application was filed in bad faith, was bereft of merit, and ought to be dismissed.
