Hushpuppi: IGP Baba Usman suspends Abba Kyari

By Yusuf Olawale

Following the indictment of Nigeria’s most decorated police officer, Abba Kyari, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has recommended the immediate suspension of Abba Kyari pending the outcome of an internal investigation set up by the Police Service Commission.

The IGP made the recommendation to the Police Service Commission (PSC) in a July 31 letter. The suspension was made known to the public by the Nigerian Police spokesman, Sunday Mba, on Sunday morning.

Mba said the suspension isn’t an indication that Kyari is guilty, but to pave way for a smooth-free and unbiased environment for the police panel to carry out the internal investigations.

The four-man police panel is set up to investigate all the allegations peddled against the supercop, who is also the head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force.

Kyari was recently indicted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for an alleged $1.1 million high profile internet fraud, involving Ramon Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi, and three others.

Despite the incriminating shreds of evidence presented by the FBI, Kyari has continually denied being complicit in any new crime. He insisted Vincent Chibuzo was arrested based on allegations of threats to Ramon Abas’s life and was released when it became clear they were only involved in money strife.

The police panel, headed by Joseph Egbunike, the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, is expected after the IGP’s submission to review “all the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari by the FBI as contained in the undercover documents presented to the Nigeria Police Force.

Mr. Mba asserted that; “The SIP is also to obtain a 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.”