Nigerian judge rejects US extradition request for suspended police chief News
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Nigerian judge rejects US extradition request for suspended police chief

A Nigerian judge rejected a request from the Nigerian Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami the for the extradition of suspended deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari. Malami requested Kyari be extradited to the US to face fraud charges in connection with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas’ international crime scheme.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division Federal High Court held that the extradition application was “an abuse of court process.” The court held that under the US Extradition Act, extraditing Kyari is prohibited, as he is a defendant already facing criminal trial before a competent court in Nigeria.

Kyari is charged with drug-related crimes by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Kyari is accused of conspiring with Abbas, who the US Department of Justice is prosecuting for leading a transnational network of “computer intrusions, fraudulent schemes…and money laundering.”

Kyari himself is accused of facilitating a $1.1 million wire fraud. Kyari is being charged for violation of 18 U.S.C § 1956(h), conspiracy to engage in money laundering. The extradition request was made to allow Kyari to testify and deliver his account of the events on US soil. 

Malami maintains that his application included enough evidence to support Kyari’s extradition to the US.