The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has revealed that it is yet to receive any official communication on the arrest warrant issued against the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States.
The arrest warrant was issued by the FBI over Kyari’s alleged indictment in a $1.1 billion cyber fraud involving Abass Ramon popularly known as Hushpuppi.
According to Punch, this disclosure was made by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Umar Gwandu, on Monday night, saying that the office has not been informed.
Gwandu said, ‘’There is no official communication to that effect,’’ adding that a transfer process won’t commence until there is a request from the US to that effect.
The ministerial aide, however, assured that the rule of law and the dictates of the extant provisions of the law will be followed in the execution of the process.
It should be noted that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is responsible for matters regarding extradition, repatriation and transfer of suspects or wanted persons.
In case you missed it
- It can be recalled that the FBI indicted the former Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, for receiving the sum of N8 million from Hushpuppi to arrest and detain a co-conspirator, Chibuzor Vincent after the latter threatened to expose the $1.1 million fraud against a Qatari businessman after he felt shortchanged.
- Although Kyari denied the allegations, the Police Service Commission, at the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, suspended the police officer on Sunday.
- The IGP had also acknowledged the receipt of FBI’s allegations against Kyari and ordered a probe into the matter.
- Meanwhile, yesterday the IGP appointed Tunji Disu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, to replace Kyari as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team.