The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says the United States Government and the Nigerian Government are discussing the possible extradition of the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, for his alleged role in a $1m scam allegedly perpetrated by alleged international Internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, aka, Hushpuppi and five others.
The AGF also said reasonable grounds for suspicion have been established against Kyari.
In July 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had revealed how Kyari allegedly collaborated with Hushpuppi, a self-confessed international fraudster, to jail one of the latter’s associates, “after a dispute over a $1.1 million scam on Qatari business people”.
The suspended police officer had, however, denied the allegation, claiming that his “hands are clean”.
In August 2021, Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, received the report of a panel set up to probe the bribery allegation against Kyari.
Days later, Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of police affairs, said the panel report on Kyari had been submitted to Malami.
Speaking on the report on Monday, the attorney-general, in an interview on Channels Television, said the panel has established “reasonable ground for suspicion” which could lead Kyari’s extradition.
“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,” he said.
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.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
