Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set August 29 as the date for rendering a decision in a case seeking the extradition of suspended DCP Abba Kyari to the United States to stand trial for alleged internet fraud.
The judge set the date after hearing the parties’ arguments for and against the lawsuit.
Kyari, whose arguments were presented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Nureni Jimoh, asked the court to deny the extradition request on the grounds that he had not committed any crime that would require the Federal Government to extradite him to the United States.
The suspended Police Chief informed the court that he had notified the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, more than a year prior to his arrest, that he had opened a communication channel with a suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abass.
Kyari explained in the two court-submitted letters that the intent was to give the suspected fraudster confidence and entice him to come to Nigeria, where an ambush had been set up for a sting operation by his own strike force.
In addition, he informed the court that he had been praised by American authorities for his dedication in the fight against internet fraud.
In addition, he told the court that the charge of wire fraud brought against him by the U.S. government is not recognised as an offence under the Extradition Act and therefore should not be used to extradite him.
Attorney for the Federal Government, Pius Akuta, urged the court to disregard the defendant’s arguments.
With the filing of the charge against Kyari and the formal request that he be brought to the United States to determine whether or not he is guilty of internet fraud, the government of the United States has met the prerequisites for extradition, according to him.