Court grants Kyari permission to file more evidence against FG’s extradition suit

Former head of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abbas Kyari, has been given the nod by a Federal High Court, Abuja, to file more evidence against a suit by the federal government seeking to extradite him to United States of America for trial.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request which was canvassed Thursday by Kyari’s lead counsel, Nureni Jimoh (SAN) in a motion on notice.

Jimoh, while arguing the motion on notice, prayed the court to allow Kyari bring additional documentary exhibits to establish his innocence in the charges against him.

The federal government counsel, Mr Pius Akuta, however, vehemently opposed the granting of the request.

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Akuta predicated his opposition on the grounds that it was an attempt to cure deficiencies in the earlier documentary evidence adduced by the detained DCP Kyari.

In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo rejected the objection of the federal government and granted permission to Kyari to adduce further documentary exhibits to his own defence.

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 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 in an alleged internet fraud by a Nigerian, Abdulraman Abbas, also known as Hushpoppi.

The federal government had sought Kyari’s extradition to the United States (U.S) to answer a case over his alleged link with a fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, had filed the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022.