The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN) on Wednesday, urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to further adjourn hearing on the extradition proceeding he initiated against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari.
Malami had in the pending application before the court, sought the extradition of Kyari to the United States of America, USA, to face trial over his alleged involvement in internet fraud, with suspect, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
The application, which was brought before the court since March 1, has suffered series of adjournments.
The court had on March 23, adjourned the matter over the inability of the AGF to serve the relevant processes on Kyari.
At the resumed sitting in the matter on Wednesday, a counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Pius Akuta, told the court that he had on April 19, filed a motion for extension of time.
Akuta said the request for more time was to enable the AGF to respond to processes that were served on him by the Respondent.
Among the processes included a preliminary objection the embattled former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, DCP Kyari, filed to challenge his planned extradition to the US.
Though Kyari’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, (SAN) did not object to Malami’s request for time, however, Justice Inyang Ekwo, expressed his displeasure over the continued stalling of the matter.
“I had on the last adjourned date, directed all the parties to file and exchange all the relevant processes within seven days to enable this matter to be heard.
“But here we are again. This matter would have been heard today, if not for this application for extension of time”, Justice Ekwo said.
He subsequently adjourned the matter till June 2.
Kyari is wanted in the U.S. to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
A grand jury had in April 29, 2021, filed an indictment against him with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, afterwhich a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Malami said the application for his extradition was based on a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja for Kyari to be surrendered for trial.