Judge’s absence halts hearing of petition seeking to prevent arrest, extradition of Kyari

The absence of Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on thursday halted the hearing of a petition filed by a group against the police over the suspension of DCP Abba Kyari.

Despite the presence of counsel for the applicant, the Incorporated Trustees of Northern Peace Foundation, Hamza N’Dantani, in court, the court registrar apologised for the judge’s incapacity to seat.

The case, which was number six on the cause list, was scheduled for hearing on April 4th.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the action could not progress on Jan. 12 due to the lack of lawyers for the plaintiff and respondents in the claim.

After that, Justice Okorowo delayed the case until today for a hearing.

According to NAN, the foundation sought to prevent the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from detaining and extraditing DCP Kyari in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2021.

The action, filed on August 9, 2021, requests that the court issue a temporary restraining order against the police and the AGF awaiting the hearing and ultimate conclusion of the substantive litigation.

NAN said that the case was heard for the first time before Justice Okorowo on January 12.

The case, which had previously been assigned to Justice Ahmed Mohammed, was moved to Okorowo.

Okorowo directed that hearing notifications be provided to the parties on the most recent adjourned date.

According to NAN, DCP Abba Kyari was allegedly accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a multi-million naira advanced fee scam allegedly conducted by a Nigerian citizen, Ramon Olorunwa Abbass, also known as Hussipuppi.