Hushpuppi money: IGP asks Police Service Commission to suspend DCP Kyari

[By VICTOR NZE]

Barely three days after ordering an internal review of the bribery allegation leveled against the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the consequent warrant issued for his arrest by a court in that country, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has asked the Police Service Commission (PSC) to suspend the top officer immediately.

DCP Kyari who also doubles as head of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja is alleged to have received huge sums of money from a $1.1million scam said to be bribes paid by suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (alias Hushpuppi) who is presently in the United States facing trial for offences bordering on money laundering and cybercrimes.

The victim of the $1.1million scam is believed to be a Qatari businessman.

However, following the commencement of the internal review ordered by the IGP, last Thursday, Kyari also awaits further outcome of the investigation, even as the FBI has also formally requested his extradition by the Nigerian government in compliance with the warrant already issued by a U.S court for his arrest and extradition.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, Thursday, had explained that the order by the IGP to commence internal review of the allegations against Kyari was ‘sequel the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against’ Kyari.

It is believed the fresh suspension may not be unconnected with the findings against the top police officer.

However, as the ordered review kicks-off, IGP Baba in a letter written to the PSC and dated, Saturday, July 31, recommended the immediate suspension of the embattled Kyari.

The letter to the PSC signed by Mba, and dated Saturday, July 31 quoted the IGP as noting that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.

“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 letter read.

It would be recalled that Judge Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, a notorious Nigerian fraudster.

Abbas was arrested in Dubai last June and he pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S. this week. The FBI said Messrs Abbas and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money. Kyari was also indicted of receiving bribes from Abbas to arrest a member of the syndicate in Nigeria.

U.S prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021, according to court documents seen by The Gazette. Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.

Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Kyari and hold him in U.S. custody was unsealed on July 26.

The embattled Kyari has since issued a statement via his Facebook account as he denied receiving money from suspected internet fraudster Hushpuppi, while also stating his side in the episode.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it await the official report on findings from the investigations ordered by the IGP over the Kyari allegations before taking action on the matter.

Commissioner in charge of Media on the board of the Police Service Commission, Mr Austin Braimoh, while reacting to the directive by the IGP Baba for an internal review of the allegations against Kyari, said the actions to be taken will be determined by the level of his indictment in the investigations.

“The commission won’t say anything until we get the official report. We are the final decision-maker on his fate as a police officer. Everything concerning his indictment can be investigated and the criminal aspect of it can be sent to the law court but on the official aspect concerning discipline; no other body has power to do anything to him as a police officer, it is only the commission that has such powers.

“So, the commission is awaiting the full report of investigation and his indictment and we will treat it officially; we would apply the law. The law will determine the various punishments that we can award against him. He can be dismissed depending on the gravity of the offence; we can demote him, reduce his rank; we can suspend him.

“Many things are laid out before us pertaining to various offences and after that, the criminal aspect would be referred to the court for prosecution. It depends on how the report is coming; whether it is coming to us directly for us to extricate the criminal aspect and treat it or they want to treat it and refer the official one to us to discipline him.’’

“We don’t always believe the police should investigate the police (personnel) except through the commission. But the important thing is that whatever thing they decide to do, we are not obliged to accept their investigations. So, our investigation department would still go further to get the facts.

‘’What we know they would do is that a query would be issued based on the complaints against him, he would be asked to defend himself and then, he would face what we call the Force Disciplinary Committee which would interrogate him and the report is passed to the DIG in charge and from there to the IG.

‘’The IG would basically forward the final findings and recommendations to the commission. The commission would now carry on with their own investigation; we have to re-investigate what they have done to ensure that they comply with the rule of law and what is expected.

‘’Our lawyer would look into it, he would check the facts and if we feel there is negligence and that some things are not done, we would do a thorough job and eventually, we would have recommendations from the standing committee to the plenary for a final decision and our decision is final on his career,’’ the PSC chief said.