Police move to dismiss Abba Kyari before extradition

This came as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, slammed an eight-count charge against Kyari, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, following his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Sources who confided in Vanguard, last night, said getting Kyari outrightly dismissed from the force was geared towards preventing the shame that might accompany his trial by NDLEA, following his alleged involvement in deal after the on-going investigations.

‘Why there’s need to dismiss Kyari, others’
It was learnt that the moves became necessary based on reports that the Federal Government has approved the request by the United States for Kyari’s extradition after a grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against him, with the approval of the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirate, UAE – based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

Another source who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “If you recall, the report of the DIG Joseph Egbunike Special Investigation earlier submitted by IGP Usman Alkali Baba was returned and Force Headquarters asked to carry out another investigation on the Hushpuppi allegation.

“They are yet to return the new investigation report to us. But whatever be the case, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice may have considered it expedient to send him to first clear himself of the allegations against him in the US.

“If he’s exonerated, then it would be easy to determine the case in Nigeria.”

The extradition proceeding initiated by the AGF against Kyari is contained in FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, brought under the Extradition Act.