The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has debunked reports that his office has absolved suspended DCP Abba Kyari of any wrongdoing in the $1.1 million internet fraud deal.
Stories circulated from a legal advice from the office of the AGF with reference no: DPPA/LA/814/21, written by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the ministry, Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the evidence contained in the case diary had no link between DCP Abba Kyari and fraudster, Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi in the $1.1million fraud.
Malami had in a recent TV interview admitted there were prima facie evidence against Kyari, adding that extradition moves were ongoing.
In a statement by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Sunday, Malami said media reports about a contradiction on his stance on the matter show a misunderstanding and misconception of the issue.
Gwandu suggested that the story was fact-checked and found to have been first written in September 2021 at the start of the Kyari saga and the Police Investigative Panel headed by the late DIG Joseph Egbunike, where the AGF recommended further probe.
“The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice’s stance is that no conclusion has been reached in the direction of absence of evidence relating to the first report,” he said.
“The issues were raised for further investigation with a view to cover the field in investigation with a view to arrive at an informed decision.”
Kyari is facing an eight-count charges bordering on drug trafficking before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite had on March 7 fixed the bail for Monday after defence lawyers, Kanu Agabi, Magaji Mahmud, James Onoja, Nureini Jimoh, and Ameh Ebute, all senior advocates of Nigeria argued that the bail application be taken first.
This was in the light of the submission by the prosecution counsel from the NDLEA, Joseph Sunday Esq, for a review of the facts of the case after two of the seven defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Kyari was arraigned alongside ACP Sunday Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspectors Simon Agirigba, John Nuhu, ASP John Umoru, who is said to be at large; Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty to the charges, while the five officers pleaded not guilty.
Kyari was on February 14 declared wanted after the NDLEA obtained video footage of him negotiating a drug deal with its investigators, whom he allegedly offered $61,400.00 as an inducement to prevent the testing of the 17.55kilogrammes.
The other defendants were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after they admitted to being drug couriers of the 21.35 kilogrammes of cocaine into the country.
