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Court Fixes Date To Decide Abba Kyari’s Fate On Extradition

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The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, has fixed 29th August 2022 for judgment in a suit seeking to extradite Abba Kyari to the United States of America to face fraud charges.

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation filed the extradition proceedings against Mr. Kyari, seeking the court’s approval to surrender him to the United States government.

Mr. Kyari, a suspended deputy commissioner of police, is wanted by the American government over pending fraud charges filed against him and others at the Central District Court of Central District of California.

U.S. prosecutors accuse him of complicity in the $1.1million international fraud spearheaded by Abbas Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi is a former Nigerian Instagram celebrity, who now awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to the scam and other criminal activities.

After taking final arguments from lawyers to the federal government and Mr. Kyari, on Friday, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, said the judgment will be delivered in the case on August 29.

Earlier, Mr. Kyari’s lawyer, Nureni Jimoh, asked the court to refuse the extradition request on the grounds that he committed no offense to warrant the Nigerian government to ferry him to the U.S.

“I know as a fact that the specified offenses are of a political character and were in fact made for the purpose of prosecuting and punishing the Respondent on account of his race, and nationality and was not made in good faith nor in the interest of justice,” the defense lawyer said.

Mr. Jimoh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the judge that more than a year before Mr. Kyari’s arrest, he had written the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, notifying them that he had opened a channel of communication with a suspected Internet fraudster, Ramon Abass.

In the two separate letters tendered in court, the defense lawyer explained that the purpose of opening the communication line with Hushpuppi was to give confidence to the suspected fraudster and lure him to come to Nigeria where an ambush was already laid for a sting operation by Mr. Kyari’s strike force.

“The request for the extradition is not supported by any document or verifiable evidence,” the lawyer argued.

“The request is directed to undermine the crackdown on various crime gangs by the Respondent in Nigeria and internationally and has a political undertone.

“The request is for purposes of persecuting or punishing the Respondent on account of his defense for the country.

“The Respondent is confronted with a series of charges to break him down because of his achievements and various National honors. A copy of the charge framed against the Respondent by the NDLEA is herewith attached as Exhibit 2.

“The offenses are trumped up and the Respondent is seriously committed to defending himself.

“The Application for extradition processes clearly shows allegation of crimes committed on Nigeria soil. A copy of the alleged charge framed against the Respondent by the US Government is herewith attached as Exhibit 3.

“The Respondent has undergone administrative inquiry which is still ongoing and has not been completed to date on the same matter.”

Mr. Jimoh informed the court that American authorities once commended his client (Mr. Kyari) for the zeal and professionalism he was exhibiting in the battle against Internet crime.

“The respondent (Mr. Kyari) has equally been decorated by the US Authorities

“The Respondent is a Deputy Commissioner of Police in the employment of the Nigeria Police who is highly decorated with meritorious service/excellent awards for outstanding service to the nation and has nowhere to run to.”

He further told the court that the wire fraud charge brought against Mr. Kyari by the American government is not known as an offense under Extradition Act and therefore, should not be allowed by the court to be used to extradite him.

“Having regards to all the circumstances thereof, it will be unjust, oppressive, and improper to surrender the Respondent to the USA.

“We also further submit that the alleged extradition offenses are not listed and cannot be imported into it. For any offenses to be extradition offenses, it must carry the twin head of being listed in the extradition Treaty and has similar or analogous offense in Nigeria,” he contended.

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JUST IN: Chaos At PDP Caucus Meeting As Security Operatives Forcefully Eject Members [VIDEO]

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The caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned chaotic on Monday after security operatives forcefully removed some members from the national executive committee (NEC) hall.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at the NEC hall of the party’s headquarters in Abuja, with members already arriving at the venue.

Two individuals were ejected by security personnel following claims by some protocol officers that they had no authorization to be present at the meeting.

During the confrontation, a glass door was broken while the members were being dragged out.

“Are you NWC member?” shouted Chinwe Nnorom, national director of publicity, before the individuals were taken out of the venue.

Earlier in the day, security personnel had taken control of the PDP headquarters and stopped members of the board of trustees (BoT) from accessing the NEC hall for their scheduled meeting.

As a result, the BoT moved their meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre located in the central business district of Abuja.

In recent weeks, the PDP has been embroiled in increasing drama and new developments amid its internal crisis.

Watch VIDEO HERE

 

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BREAKING: Security Operatives Block PDP BoT From Meeting At Party Headquarters

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Security operatives have barred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The security personnel stopped the BoT members from accessing the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday morning.

The BoT has subsequently relocated the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District.

 

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Nigerian Medical Student Hails “Inspiring” Encounter With President Tinubu, St. Lucian PM Pierre

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For Nigerian medical student Bob Chikwem Amadi, what started as a routine work assignment turned into an unforgettable experience with two world leaders — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia.

Amadi, currently studying medicine at the American International University in Saint Lucia, was part of the service team present during President Tinubu’s courtesy call to Prime Minister Pierre’s official residence on the second day of the Nigerian president’s state visit to the Caribbean nation.

Originally from Rivers State, Amadi has lived in Saint Lucia for ten years and recently completed the four-year basic phase of his medical education. He is now preparing to begin his clinical training.

Alongside his studies, Amadi also works part-time as a talent and brand manager with a local catering and entertainment company — a role that brought him close to the high-level diplomatic event.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pierre was informed by his aides that one of the staff members was a Nigerian student.

Taking a brief moment before his official engagements began, the prime minister introduced Amadi to President Tinubu.

The president, known for his engaging nature and interest in Nigerians living abroad, took time to speak with the young student, asking about his name, background, and academic journey.

Tinubu extended his best wishes and words of encouragement, praising Amadi for his dedication to his studies overseas.

Describing the experience, Amadi said it was “an inspiring moment” for him.

“Saint Lucia is an amazing island. I will describe it as a wonderful place. They are a very contented society and things are relatively calm”, he said.

The moment was capped off when Amadi was invited to join President Tinubu and Prime Minister Pierre for a group photograph — a symbolic and memorable close to a chance meeting with two major political leaders from Africa and the Caribbean.

Amadi also reflected on the strong historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.

“We have always hoped that there are many opportunities between Saint Lucia and Nigeria. We share similar food crops and culture, and the connection is deep”, he said.

President Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia marks the beginning of a broader diplomatic tour of the Caribbean and South America, focused on enhancing trade, cultural ties, and diplomatic collaboration between Nigeria and Caribbean countries.

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