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, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set August 29 for judgment.
After hearing arguments for and against the suit from the parties involved, the judge set the date for Friday.
Kyari, whose arguments were presented by Nureni Jimoh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, asked the court to reject the extradition request on the grounds that he had committed no crime that would justify the Federal Government transporting him to the United States.
The suspended police officer told the court that he had written the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, more than a year before his arrest, informing them that he had established contact with a suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abass.
In the two letters 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 own strike force.
Besides, he informed the court that American authorities once commended him for the commitment he was exhibiting in the battle against internet fraud.
He further told the court that the wire fraud charge brought against him by the American government is not known as an offence under Extradition Act and therefore, should not be allowed by the court to be used to extradite him.
However, the Federal Government, represented by Mr Pius Akuta, urged the court to discountenance the arguments of the defendant.
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 guilty or innocence in his indictment for internet fraud.
Details later.
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