The suspended deputy police commissioner Abba Kyari has told the Federal High Court in Abuja not to extradite him to the United States because the allegations against him are baseless.
Kyari is wanted in the US to face trial over his alleged involvement with convicted internet fraudster Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi.
Kyari, in a counter-affidavit that was deposed to by his younger brother, Mohammed, said that he is a highly decorated senior police officer that was already carrying out a “sting investigation” on Hushpuppi, before he was framed up and arrested.
“A copy of the letter written by the Respondent to the Interpol on 28th January, 2020 and to the Inspector General of Police on 3rd March, 2020 in respect of the sting investigation being carried out by the Respondent are herewith attached as Exhibit 1a & 1b respectively. This was five months before the arrest of Ramon Abbas and others by the FBI.
“The request for the extradition is not supported by any document or verifiable evidence,” he said.
But the Federal Government, through the office of the attorney-general of the federation Abubakar Malami, in its own affidavit that was deposed to by Bello Sholadoye, said it has sufficient evidence to warrant Kyari’s extradition to the US for trial.
The government said Kyari’s ongoing trial for drug trafficking would not stop the court from approving his extradition, stressing that surrending him to the US Government could be postponed till the conclusion of his trial in Nigeria.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter till Friday to enable the prosecuting lawyer, Pius Akutah, to respond to Kyari’s preliminary objection against his planned extradition.
