Hushpuppi: AGF Malami nails DCP Abba Kyari for extradition to U.S.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has tightened his plan to nail DCP Abba Kyari for extradition to the United States (U.S.) for prosecution. Malami had penultimate week ordered a fresh investigation of Kyari by the Police Service Commission after a Committee appointed by the Inspector general of Police on the directive of the Commission had completed investigation of the suspended senior police officer.

While the fresh investigation was commencing, the Nigerian justice minister concluded that prima facie evidence of crime had been established against Abba Kyari in the Hushpuppi case in the U.S.

Malami in a statement by his Media Adviser, Umar Gwandu, on Thursday, disclosed that the federal government has commenced the process for the extradition of Abba Kyari to the U.S. for prosecution on criminal allegations. The minister emphasised that the legal proceedings highlighted in the statement: “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice received the extradition request in respect of the officer in question.

“After thorough studies and reviews of issues regarding the application and components thereof, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice processed the application and forwarded same to the relevant authorities for further necessary action.”

Observing that the extradition process has multiple processes, the minister asserted that the “submission of request from the concerned party to the relevant authorities constitutes one of such components”.

Malami, on Tuesday, filed a suit before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the extradition of DCP Abba Kyari to the U.S. for criminal prosecution. The minister in the application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 filed under the Extradition Act, explained that the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.