The detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, was granted permission by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday to file more evidence in response to the Federal Government’s request to extradite him to the United States of America for trial on criminal charges.
In a motion on notice, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted Kyari’s request made through his lead counsel Nureni Jimoh, SAN.
During his argument for the motion on notice, Jimoh requested that the court allow Kyari to bring additional documentary exhibits to prove his innocence in the charges brought against him.
Mr Pius Akuta, the Federal Government’s counsel, however, was adamantly opposed to the request being granted.
Akuta justified his opposition by claiming that it was an attempt to correct flaws in the detained DCP’s earlier documentary evidence.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo overruled the Federal Government’s objection and allowed Kyari to present more documentary evidence in his own defense.
The judge said that the court would have ample opportunity to determine the probate value to be attached to the additional evidence.
Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo has fixed June 3 for a definite hearing in the extradition suit instituted by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the Federal Government against Kyari.
The suit is seeking to extradite Kyari at the request of the American government to face trial in his indictment for alleged internet fraud by a Nigerian, Abdulraman Abbas also known as Hushpuppi.
The Federal Government had sought Kyari’s extradition to the United States to answer a case over his alleged link with Hushpuppi.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, had filed the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022.
The suit, titled: “Application for the Extradition of Abba Kyari to the U.S.,” was dated and filed on March 2.
While the AGF is the applicant, Kyari is the respondent in the application.
Kyari was formerly the head of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The application was filed under the Extradition Act, as part of the Nigerian government’s approval of the request by the US for Kyari’s extradition.
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