The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that the extradition request by the United State Government for the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, was still being processed.
He made this known while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Malami stated that Kyari’s case with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was local and unrelated to his case with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
The minister said that the embattled cop’s case with the narcotic agency was not an attempt to delay his extradition to the US as speculated by some Nigerians.
He, however, appealed to journalists to always clarify the facts from his office to avoid confusion and unnecessary widespread misunderstanding of issues.
He said: “There is no confusion. But there is a great misconception or perhaps either mischievous or otherwise on the path of certain journalists that have not taken their time to study a solution, understand it and act accordingly.
“Well, you see there is the aspect associated with the case of Abba Kyari that is being handled at the international level, particularly the US. And the US, arising from the case of Hushpuppi, sent in an extradition request. I think you should get that clear.
“They sent in a request for extradition related to Abba Kyari. And the way and manner these things are done with particular regards to the extradition, the office of the attorney-general, upon receipt of an international extradition request, usually presents the same before the judiciary for consideration.
“So, the conclusion as to whether a person should be extradited or not is a function, or perhaps multilateral function inclusive of the international committee that makes a request, the office of the attorney-general diversity request and the judiciary, to which the request is presented for review, analysis and decision. So, that is the case presented on account of the request of the international community, the US associated with Abba Kyari. That one is a distinct, separate and clear case.
“And that brings about the operation, application and enforcement of the Nigerian law. And then, apparently arising from that, he was charged in a different field altogether unrelated to the case at the international level. So, what you have are two distinctly separate and independent cases, one international in dimension the other one local.
“So, your idea of conflict does not arise. But the idea of misconception is the creation on the part of journalists, perhaps reporting cases out of context without caring to understand the true provisions, dimensions and characters of the case. What I am saying is that there is nothing like confusion, there is nothing like conflict, there are two distinct and separate cases.”
