Hushpuppi scandal: IGP recommends immediate suspension of Abba Kyari

By Ajuma Edwina Ameh

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation on him.

The suspension comes on the heels of his recent indictment by the United States District Court for the Central District of California, for his alleged involvement in Ramon Abass popularly known as Hushpuppi’s $1.1m international fraud conspiracy.

Persecondnews recalls that the Court had ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in the multi-million dollar fraud.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, titled, ‘FBI indictment: IGP recommends suspension of DCP Abba Kyari’, noted that “DCP Kyari’s suspension will be on pending following the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations into his indictment, for alleged involvement in a $1.1m internet fraud by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

According to the IGP, the recommendation for the suspension of DCP Kyari was in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the force, adding that the suspension was expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against him without interference.

The statement read in part: ”The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

“The SIP comprising four senior police officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department.

“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.

”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.”