FG working with US to extradite DCP Kyari, says AGF Malami

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has said a prima facie case had been established against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari over allegations levelled against him by the United States government in the fraud case involving an internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi.

The AG said the FG was working with the relevant US agencies “on possible extraction” of the embattled police cop to America to face trial.

In July 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had revealed how Kyari allegedly collaborated with Hushpuppi, a self-confessed international fraudster, to jail one of the latter’s associates, “after a dispute over a $1.1 million scam on Qatari business people”.

The suspended police officer had, however, denied the allegation.

In August 2021, Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, received the report of a panel set up to probe the bribery allegation against Kyari.

Malami, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television, noted that multiple jurisdictions were involved in the matter, including the United Arab Emirates, America, and Nigeria. He added that though investigations were still on-going, the possibility of extraditing the officer was high.

The attorney general also claimed that the number of convictions the administration had so far secured in the fight against corruption clearly established that a recent report by Transparency International had no basis.

Malami said, “There are lots of considerations that are ongoing, including the possibility of extradition and that is why the collaboration element comes in. There could be a need for extradition.

“As far as I am concerned, parties are discussing; we are collaborating and there are exchanges of correspondence. Reasonable ground of suspicion has been established and that will eventually translate into prosecution and eventual conviction.

“The position now is that there are prima facie grounds, reasonable grounds for suspicion have been considered from the perspective of prosecution, from the perspective of extradition if the need for it arises.”

Malami rejected the Corruption Perceptions Index 2021, which ranked Nigeria 154 out of 180 countries and territories.

He said before the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Nigeria had only about 103 convictions in corruption cases between 2013 and 2014.

He said the number had moved to 2,000 convictions in 2021 alone in cases brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Malami said, “Today, as of the end of 2021, EFCC has recorded over 2,000 convictions. So, if you are talking of the year in, year out empirical evidence as it relates to the performance of our institutions, one single institution (EFCC) has established the point that there is no basis by which Transparency International report can stand.

“When you juxtapose the report of the Transparency International with that of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which is more universal and are the best for assessment.

“As far as we are concerned, when you are talking of Transparency International compared with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), then, the answer as far as we are concerned is UNDOC stands clear.

“The fact that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended and rated as the champion of anti-corruption established a point that there is no basis, no foundation, no justifiable ground and, indeed, to the standing platform upon which Transparency International could stand. We have been acknowledged to be doing very well by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).”

The minister insisted that the fight against corruption could only be assessed by the number of prosecutions and convictions, saying the fact that EFCC could records, over 2,000 convictions within a year showed that the present administration has done well in the fight against corruption.

Malami also dwelt on the alleged delay in the prosecution of high profile cases, saying, “As far as the present administration is concerned, delay of cases does not arise. If you are looking at it from the perspective of the legislative framework, we are enforcing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as in day-in-day-out prosecution of cases.”