Attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Monday said the extradition of top police officer Abba Kyari to the United States to face fraud charges is a possibility considering that reasonable grounds of suspicion have been established.
Kyari, who is currently suspended from the Nigeria Police Force, is alleged to have been involved in a $1m scam allegedly perpetrated by convicted fraudster Ramon Abbas alias Hushpuppi and five others.
The police had probed Kyari and transmitted its findings to Malami for “legal opinion”.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Malami said, “It is an issue that has international and national dimensions. Actions have been taken, it is a work-in-process locally and internationally and we are doing whatever it takes to ensure justice is done within the context of the law regardless of the personalities that are involved.
“When criminality is involved, Nigeria and US naturally work together when there are elements of the offences that have taken place in the diverse jurisdictions. So, Nigeria is doing the needful by way of supporting what America is doing for the purpose of ensuring that the cases are tried accordingly within the context of the American context of it. And then, eventually, if there is need for local prosecution, nothing stops it.”
On possible extradition, he said, “There are a lot of issues that are ongoing inclusive of the possibility of consideration for extradition. That is where the collaboration element of it comes into play.”
Malami, who is also minister of justice, did not confirm if the US had made a formal request for Kyari’s extradition.
He said parties are still discussing and exchanging correspondence.
“Reasonable grounds for suspicion have been established and that will eventually translate to the possibility of prosecution and conviction if indeed one is adjudged guilty by the law,” he added.
Hushpuppi, who pleaded guilty to various offences bordering on internet scam and money laundering among others, is due for sentencing on July 11, 2022.
