An Abuja Federal High Court has fixed August 29 for judgment in a suit seeking to extradite a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP, Abba Kyari to the United States of America for trial in alleged internet fraud.
The judge fixed the date on Friday, after taking arguments for and against the suit by the parties involved.
The Abuja Federal High Court had on Thursday, adjourned to Friday while granting permission to the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, to file more evidence, against a suit by the Federal Government, seeking to extradite him to the United States of America, for trial in alleged criminal charges.
The Federal Government counsel, Pius Akuta, however, opposed the granting of the request, on the ground that it was an attempt to cure deficiencies, in the earlier documentary evidence, adduced by the detained DCP KyarI.
When the matter came up on Friday, Kyari’s counsel, Jimoh, asked the court to refuse the extradition request, on the ground that Kyari did not commit any offence, to warrant the Federal Government to ferry him to America.
Jimoh told the court that, more than a year before his arrest, Kyari had written the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, notifying them that he had opened a channel of communication with a suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppy.
In the two letters Jimoh tendered in court, Kyari explained that the purpose was to give confidence to the suspected fraudster and lure him to come to Nigeria, where an ambush was already laid for a sting operation by his strike force.
Jimoh also told the court that the wire fraud charge brought against Kyari by the American government is not known as an offence under the Extradition Act, and therefore, should not be used to extradite him, as the action is an act of international politics, to get a hold of his client, to extract classified information.
However, the Federal Government counsel, Pius Akuta, urged the court to discountenance the arguments of the defendant, which seem to lure the case to trial.
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He said that conditions precedent for extradition have been met by the American government, with the filing of the charge against Kyari, and a formal application that he be brought to America, to establish his guilt or innocence in his indictment for internet fraud.
Justice Ekwo, therefore, adjourned to 29 August, for trial.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
