A group of 31 lawyers from northern Nigeria has volunteered to defend the commander of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari from his alleged case of corruption.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States is accusing Kyari of receiving $1 million bribe from a convicted fraudster, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
The FBI wants the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) extradited to the US to clear himself from the alleged crime.
The Nigeria Police has since suspended supper cop even as the IGP has set a up a committe to investigate the allegation.
However, in a statement by the spokesperson of the northern lawyers, Sunusi Bappah Salisu, the group said the lawyers are from the 19 northern states and religions, adding that the the pro bono was in response to calls for support for Kyari by the Coalition of Northern Groups.
He added that the lawyers would be fighting for the preservation of Kyari’s fundamental rights that might be potentially jeopardized by his alleged indicetment by a court in the United States of America.
He said, “We would raise questions involving the possibility of breaches to Kyari’s fundamental rights entrenched in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right which essentially state that every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person and every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard.”
“Also, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.”