March 23, (THEWILL) – Justice Nyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, has adjourned to April 27, 2022, for definite hearing in the case filed by the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), seeking to extradite the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari.
The AGF had filed an application seeking to extradite Kyari to the United States of America, to face trial alongside alleged fraudster, Ramon Abass a.k.a Hushpuppi, and other accomplices, who were involved in internet fraud.
When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, Nureni Jimoh (SAN), counsel to Kyari, told Justice Ekwo that he was yet to be served with the AGF’s processes.
Counsel to the AGF and the Head of the Central Authority Unit (CAU) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Pius Akutah, confirmed that the applicant was yet to effect service on the respondent.
He hinged the delay in serving the respondent on the sister case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), against Kyari and six others on allegations bordering on drug trafficking which was ongoing before Justice Emeka Nwite.
He assured the court that the applicant would effect service on the respondent (Kyari) by March 24 and prayed the court for an adjournment.
Akutah, who said he had within 14 days to effect the service in accordance with the law, assured that the applicant would effect service on the respondent (Kyari) by tomorrow, Thursday, March 24.
Kyari’s lawyer did not object to the application for adjournment, but said he was entitled under the court’s rules to 14 days from the date of service to file a response.
Justice Ekwo, however, said he would give the AGF more days for the service and adjourn until April 27 for hearing.
Recall that the minister had filed an extradition application against Kyari following the request by the United State Government in a multi-million dollar fraud case involving suspected fraudster, Ramon Abba, aka 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 March 2.
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