Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, has been suspended over the indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a criminal complaint lodged at the United States District Court in California, FBI had listed Kyari among six suspects indicted in an international fraud conspiracy.
The fraud was said to have been orchestrated by Ramon Abbas, Instagram celebrity, better known as Hushpuppi.
According to FBI, Hushpuppi, who is currently standing trial in the US, had sent some money to Kyari to help track down one of his rivals.
Although Kyari had denied the allegation, the FBI had asked Nigerian authorities to arrest him.
In a statement on Sunday, Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the Police Service Commission, said Kyari’s suspension took effect on Saturday.
“Abba Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31st 2021 and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.”
“The Commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action.
“The Commission’s decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/vol/V/138 to the Inspector General of Police today, Sunday, August 1st, 2021, was signed by Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner 1 in the Commission for the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police who is currently on leave,” the statement read.
The IGP had earlier sent a letter to the commission recommending the suspension of the police officer.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba in the letter dated 31st July 2021, noted the recommendation for suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
A statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba reads:
”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 investigations touching on him. The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
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 favour of the officer.
The Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four (4) Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID). The SIP, inter alia, is to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari by the US Government as contained in relevant documents that have been availed the NPF by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The SIP is also to obtain detailed representation of DCP Abba Kyari to all the allegations levelled against him, conduct further investigations as it deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on the matter.
Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of the officer throughout the period of the investigations.”
Truly sad! Kyari seems to have ignorantly thrown away his career for a plate of porridge, what a waste. And kudos to the Nigeria Police Service Commission for taking the right decision to suspend him pending the outcome of the allegation against Kyari.
What a waste of a promising career! Sad.