Hushpuppi: Abba Kyari’s Extradition Proceedings Adjourned to New Date

 

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set a new date for hearing in the extradition case of embattled police officer, Abba Kyari.

 

Proceedings on Wednesday was suspended after the court adjourned the case till April 27 for further hearing because the Attorney General of the Federal (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) failed to serve Kyari with the extradition application.

 

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.

 

Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting last week Wednesday, Malami said the application was still being processed.

 

At the mention of the case on Wednesday, lawyer to Kyari, Nureini Jimoh (SAN) told the court that the AGF has not served his client with the extradition application filed.

 

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.

 

Akutah said the applicant could not serve before now because of Kyari’s involvement with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 

He assured the court that the applicant would effect service on the respondent (Kyari) by March 24 and prayed the court for an adjournment.

 

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.