Kogiflame
The Nigerian government has finally given approval for the embattled police crime fighter, Deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari to be extradited to the United States to face trial for issues pertaining to his alleged involvement with fraud kingpin, Hushpuppi.
Recall the police officer, Kyari was sometime last year, linked with Hushpuppi, a renowned fraud kingpin who was arrested in Dubai for defrauding some victims.
Kyari was said to have been involved in the over $1.1million wire fraud perpetrated by Abass Ramon aka Hushpuppi and 4 others.
After several delays and agitations from some quarters, the FG finally gave in today and approved Kyari’s extradition.
Speaking on the development, the attorney general and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami gave reasons for finally approving Kyari’s extradition.
According to AGF Malami, he said he was satisfied that Kyari’s surrender is not political nor is it trivial.
Malami had further added that he was satisfied that the request to extradite Kyari was not a plan to persecute or punish him because of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but a proper route to ensure justice is done.
The FG’s decision comes after a series of agitations and court cases by some concerned citizens who have continually painted a political picture about the case.
According to the Punch, the PAN-Arewa socio-cultural organisation under the aegis of Coalition of 52 Northern Groups had met last year to call for the review of Kyari’s suspension after investigations showed he had links to Hushpuppi’s fraudulent lifestyle.
The group had also petitioned the US to call on the FBI to review its decision to call for Kyari’s extradition.
According to the Northern group, they noted that it was possible that the FBI may have breached the fundamental criminal justice procedure by not according Mr Kyari the benefit of being heard before going ahead with the purported indictment by an American Court.
Another group of Nigerians under the auspices of The Incorporated Trustees of Northern Peace Foundation had last year August rejected the order seeking to extradite Abba Kyari to the United States to face trial.
The suit was however stalled as the trial Judge, Justice Okorowo was absent from sitting when the case was called on the 10th of February 2022.
With Malami’s final verdict on this issue, all further agitations aiming to stop Kyari’s extradition may have been silenced as this development further gives some form of credence to the FBI investigations linking Kyari to Hushpuppi.
