Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to respect international law on the issue involving the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari regarding his link to international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi.
Daily post reported earlier that Otis Wright of the U.S District Court for the Central District of California had told the FBI to track down Kyari and produce him before the court over his alleged role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Hushpuppi, a notorious Nigerian fraudster.
As widely reported in Nigeria and beyond, Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai over a year ago and pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S earlier this week. The FBI said Hushpuppi and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money.
The deputy commissioner of police was also indicted of receiving bribes from Hushpuppi to arrest a member of the syndicate in Nigeria.
Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Mr Kyari and hold him in U.S custody was unsealed on July 26.
However, Kyari had in a statement on Thursday denied allegations of conspiracy with Hushpuppi, saying he only met him two years ago and did not benefit financially from the fraudster.
Reacting to the news, Moghalu believes that since the Federal Government under Buhari has arrested Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and are also seeking to extradite Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Igboho, from Benin Republic, the president should follow due process on Kyari.
He insisted that the FBI’s request for the extradition of Kyari in the Hushpuppi case will put Buhari and Nigeria in the global spotlight.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, CBN, wrote on Twitter on Friday, “President @MBuhari has frequently opted for subjective loyalties over real political will on national security and fighting corruption. The U.S. @FBI request for the extradition of the accused police chief, Abba Kyari in the Hushpuppi case will put him and Nigeria in the global spotlight.
“It’s one thing to go to great lengths in seeking to extradite Sunday Igboho from Benin Republic and the apparent extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from God-knows-where. It’s another to respect international law in black and white when it comes to certain Nigerians.
“Nigeria and the United States have an extradition treaty and it has been used in a number of cases. Is this a bone in the throat? What leadership calls for is obvious. President Buhari should respect laws and follow due process. We are watching.”
