Nigeria To Probe ‘Super Cop’ Indicted In $1.1m Fraud By US Investigators
Abba Kyari, a high-ranking Nigerian police officer, has been indicted for enabling fraud by US investigators.
The Nigeria Police has commenced an internal investigation into the bribery allegations by United States detectives against Abba Kyari, one of its most celebrated cops linked to a $1.1million bribery case.
A statement by Frank MBA, the police spokesperson, said the case would be duly monitored for “the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of the Nigerian police professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.”
“Further developments on this case will be communicated to members of the public accordingly,” the police said.
A United States Court had earlier issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari over his role in how a Qatari businessperson was duped of the $1.1 million by the serial internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, more commonly known as Hushpuppi.
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’.”
Court documents said the American prosecutors had first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021. Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.
On July 26, Judge Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the FBI to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role.
Kyari, in a hurried statement on Facebook, has, however, dismissed the allegations of bribery.
Kyari has always used his social media accounts to counter allegations of extortion from families of those he has either investigated in the past or is currently investigating for alleged crimes.
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