The Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari over the Hushpuppi’s fraud investigation.
Kyari has been declared wanted by the FBI after a United States court indicted him for allegedly receiving bribes from billionaire fraudster Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) who is facing trial in the U.S. for money laundering.
A statement by force spokesperson Frank Mba on Sunday said Kyari, who is head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has been suspended from tpending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations touching on him.
Mba said the IGP in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for thesuspension 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 statement said.
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.
