Abba Kyari: Nigeria’s ‘Super Cop’ Recommended For Suspension Over Fraud Scandal
Kyari's suspension recommendation comes as the police force begins an internal investigation following an FBI indictment into a fraud conspiracy.
Abba Kyari, a celebrated Nigerian cop, linked to a $1.1million bribery case has been recommended for suspension.
Kyari’s suspension was recommended by Usman Alkali Baba, the country’s Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation, a statement by Frank Mba, the police 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 investigations 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 favour of the officer.”
Kyari was indicted by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an alleged involvement in how a Qatari businessperson was duped of over $1.1 million by Ramonu Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi who is currently being held in the US.
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’.”
But the cop 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 the Nigerian cop.
The Nigerian Police Service Commission, the agency in charge of disciplinary actions, said the FBI has no power to make arrests in Nigeria without the commission’s findings and approval. The FBI has since been in touch with the Nigerian Police.
Until his suspension, Kyari was the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
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