The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, a celebrated Nigerian cop, linked to a $1.1milli
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, a celebrated Nigerian cop, linked to a $1.1million bribery case involving disgraced internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.
Until now, Kyari was the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The suspension is expected to stand pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation, a statement by Frank Mba, the force spokesperson, said on Sunday morning, August 1.
According to the statement, the IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated July 31, 2021, had noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer was in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
The statement read in part, that “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation touching on him.”
“The IGP further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favor of the officer.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicted Kyari in a fraud case where a Qatari national was defrauded of over $1.1m by Hushpuppi and his cohorts.
Hushpuppi had brought Kyari into the fraud scheme to arrest his gang member-turned-rival, Kelly Chibuzo who was displeased by his cut from the fraud proceeds, according to a months-long investigation by Andrew Innocenti, an FBI special agent.
Kyari’s involvement, according to Innocenti, was “to ensure CHIBUZO’s continued arrest, thereby preventing CHIBUZO from notifying the Victim Businessperson of ABBAS’ and JUMA’s fraudulent scheme and preventing CHIBUZO from hijacking the scheme for his own benefit.”
“The decorated Nigerian cop was also said to have told ABBAS that he would not allow CHIBUZO’s girlfriend to pay money to get CHIBUZO out of custody as he would have done for a ‘normal arrest’.”
While Kyari has since denied any involvement in the said case, a United States court sitting in California had, on July 26, ordered the FBI to arrest him.
However, the Nigerian Police Service Commission has maintained the FBI has no power to make arrests in Nigeria without the commission’s findings and approval.
