The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, from the service of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) pending the determination of the ongoing internal investigation against him.
The New Diplomat had reported that Kyari has been under fire since a report by the Department of Justice, indicted him as one of the conspirators in a mega fraud scheme masterminded by the international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi.
On Sunday, the IGP recommended the suspension of Kyari from the force, noting that the action is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the force.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the police spokesperson, Frank Mba.
Mba also disclosed that a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) comprising of four senior police officers, has been set up to investigate the allegations levelled against Kyari. The panel will be chaired by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Joseph Egbunike.
The statement partly reads, “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.”
Kyari, a Nigerian super cop was allegedly fingered to have conspired with Hushpuppi to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson who had aimed to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar.
The DCP was said to have allegedly collected an undisclosed fund from Hushpuppi to arrest one Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, a who wanted to foil the effort of his team members due to a dispute.
Recall that the super cop had also denied the allegations, describing them as false and fictitious.
The DCP, who took to his Facebook account stated that he is focused on protecting people’s lives rather than defrauding people.
Following the emergence of the allegations, an “internal review of the allegations” against Kyari, by a United States court has been ordered by the IGP.
