The Federal Government has broken its silence after the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected request to extradite the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, to the United States of America.
Kyari was to be sent to US to face trial over his alleged involvement with a notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
In a judgement on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the extradition application filed by the government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was “incompetent and bereft of merit.”
According to the judge, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, ought to be aware that the Extradition Act forbade the surrendering of a defendant that is already facing trial before a competent court in the country.
He said the law was clear that Kyari, having been docked before a court of competent jurisdiction in the country, “shall not be surrendered until the such case has been discharged either by his conviction or acquittal.”
Consequently, the court held that the extradition request was incompetent and deserved to be dismissed.
Reacting to the development the Spokesman to the minister, Umar Gwandu, said the federal Government will study the ruling and decide on what to do next within the provisions of the law
He told The Punch, “The Federal Government will study the judgment and decide the next line of action within the provisions of the law.”