By Pascal Ibe

Claim

A parody X account of Senator Nenadi Usman, @SenNenadiNews, claimed that Abba Kyari is now a free man and that the ex-AGF stopped his extradition to the US.

Verdict

These claims are FALSE. Evidence indicated that it was a court that halted the extradition of Mr Kyari to the US when the ex-AGF, Abubakar Malami, filed an application. On the other hand, although the suspended police deputy commissioner was granted a two-week bail in 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that he’s still in their custody as the trial continues.

Full Text

A parody X account of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, named (@SenNenadiNews has claimed that the celebrity super cop who later turned a drug suspect, Abba Kyari, is now a free man.

The X user also claimed that the former attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, stopped the extradition of the suspended police deputy commissioner to the US.

The claims on the X platform read, “Abba Kyari is a free man

“Abubaka Malami, Frm AG stopped his extradition to US to face money laundering charges by filing frivolous drug charges

“Igbo police officer will not escape this extradition.

“Nigeria is a corrupt country.

As of May 13, the post has already garnered over 20k views with more than 660 reposts on the X platform.

Background

Abba Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the police, was arrested on 14 February 2022 after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged links to an international drug cartel.

The suspended DCP and four members of the IRT – Sunday Ubua (ACP), Bawa James (ASP), Simon Agirgba (Inspector), and John Nuhu (Inspector) are being prosecuted on charges of conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine.

They are also accused of dealing in cocaine without lawful authority, conspiracy to tamper with cocaine, and unlawfully tampering with the 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.

On 7 March 2022, Mr Kyari and others were arraigned alongside Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, the two suspected drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, by the officers.

Upon arraignment, Mr Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty.

However, Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne, the 6th and 7th defendants, pleaded guilty and were convicted accordingly.

Also in 2022, Kyari was declared wanted in the United States over an alleged conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.

Verification

Verifying the first claim that Mr Kyari is a free man, FACTWATCH Nigeria‘s thorough checks showed that he was granted a two-week bail by the high court for his mother’s burial rites in May 2024.

The court said the bail is to enable Kyari to conclude the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died the previous month.

The court ruled that Kyari should deposit his international passport with the court and report to any National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) formation nearest to him, within the period of the bail.

However, after the expiration of temporary bail, in June 2024, the court dismissed a fresh application by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, filed to be released on bail, pending the conclusion of his trial.

It held that the application lacked merit, stressing that the suspended DCP failed to establish any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.

As Mr Kyari’s trial continues to this moment, no credible sources or news organizations have reported that he has been freed.

Providing an update on Abba Kyari’s status, the Nigerian Correctional Service Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, told FACTWATCH Nigeria that the suspended deputy commissioner of police is still in their custody and he’s in good condition.

On the second claim that the ex-AGF, Abubakar Malami, stopped his extradition to the US, this Fact Checker learnt that it was a court that halted the extradition of Mr Kyari to the US when the ex-AGF, Abubakar Malami, filed an application.

The judge held that the application filed through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation was “incompetent and bereft of merit”.

The court stated that the AGF, being the chief law officer of the country, should be aware that the Extradition Act prevents the surrender of a defendant who is currently being tried by a local court of competent jurisdiction.

The court questioned why the AGF had requested extradition since he had also given the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) a fiat to bring charges against Kyari relating to drug trafficking.

Conclusion

Investigations have countered the claims that Abba Kyari has been released and an ex-AGF stopped his extradition to the US.