Kyari cleared by court, no financial link to Hushpuppi, Says lawyer

Kyari cleared by court, no financial link to Hushpuppi, Says lawyer


A member of the defence team representing former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, Hamza Sulieman, has clarified what he described as persistent misconceptions surrounding the Federal High Court’s dismissal of the extradition case filed against his client in 2022.

Sulieman on Tuesday explained that on August 29, 2022, the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed the extradition case against DCP Kyari, and that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not appealed the decision since then. 

“Consequently, the dismissal remains valid and binding under Nigerian law,” he said. “It is important to note that no Nigerian citizen can be extradited to any foreign country without the express approval of a Nigerian court, as clearly stipulated by law,” he said.

He maintained that contrary to what he called misleading reports, Kyari never received any money from Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi. “Abba Kyari never received a single kobo from Hushpuppi. Likewise, Hushpuppi never reimbursed any expenses incurred by the Nigerian Police team that investigated a case he voluntarily reported — concerning a suspect who allegedly threatened his mother,” he stated.

According to Sulieman, the misunderstanding that led to allegations against Kyari stemmed from differences between Nigerian and American legal systems. “In Nigeria, it is not unlawful for a complainant to voluntarily cover basic logistics expenses such as vehicle fuel or accommodation for investigators, given the well-known fact that government funding for police investigations is grossly inadequate. 

“However, under American law, even voluntary funding of police operations is considered an offense. The misunderstanding between both legal systems led to the false perception of wrongdoing in this case,” he explained.

He further noted that investigation later revealed that the suspect accused by Hushpuppi of threatening his mother was not an armed robber but a member of his own cyber-fraud syndicate. “The suspect was detained and later granted bail after three weeks due to serious medical conditions — against Hushpuppi’s wishes, as he had demanded the suspect be charged for armed robbery,” Sulieman said. 

“When Kyari refused to press such false charges, Hushpuppi became displeased and subsequently withheld the voluntary logistics reimbursement he had earlier promised. Kyari never followed up or requested it again.”

The lawyer added that official records clearly showed Kyari had no financial or criminal dealings with Hushpuppi. “Their only interactions were a brief meeting in Dubai in September 2019 when Kyari visited with his family, and two phone conversations in January and May 2020,” he said. 

“In those calls, Hushpuppi sought police assistance — one concerning a threat-to-life complaint involving his mother, and another regarding his associate, Martins, who was allegedly defrauded of ₦8 million. 

“Kyari received a complaint and evidence from Martins and successfully traced the suspect. He never benefitted financially from any of these complaints.”

Sulieman emphasized that Kyari’s career record remains exemplary despite chronic underfunding of police operations in Nigeria. “He handled thousands of cases with outstanding results and never demanded or collected money for investigations or favors,” he said. 

“Those who speak ill of him are largely individuals with vested interests — including criminals he brought to justice, those who envy his achievements, or people misled by sponsored media falsehoods. Anyone with evidence contrary to these verified facts is challenged to present it publicly.”

He also referenced the findings of a Federal Police Panel convened in September 2021, which he said investigated the matter thoroughly. “The individual who defrauded Martins of ₦8 million appeared before the panel, confessed to the fraud, and affirmed that Kyari had no prior knowledge of the transaction until six weeks after it occurred. The suspect’s bank records were examined, and no financial link to Kyari was established,” he stated.

Drawing a comparison with other high-profile extradition cases, Sulieman recalled that Chief Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace Airlines, had also faced two U.S. extradition requests which the Federal Government declined. “Just as Onyema is essential to Nigeria’s economic stability, Kyari remains a critical asset in the fight against crime and insecurity,” he said. 

“Those making unsubstantiated claims against him should educate themselves on the facts and avoid spreading half-truths and ignorance in the media.”

Sulieman reaffirmed that the case against Kyari had been lawfully dismissed and that investigations by competent authorities had vindicated him. “The truth remains constant: the extradition case against Abba Kyari has been lawfully dismissed. 

“No credible evidence links him to Hushpuppi’s criminal activities. His integrity and service record speak louder than unfounded allegations,” he said.

“Until proven otherwise in a competent court of law, DCP Abba Kyari stands innocent in the eyes of justice and in the conscience of all fair-minded Nigerians,” he added.



Source: Blueprint

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