FBI Indictment: DCP Kyari Suspended

By Kingsley Nwezeh

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari.

The suspension was sequel to the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, for immediate suspension of Kyari over his Indictment by the United States Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) and an order for his arrest by a District Court of California over his alleged role in a $1 million fraud case involving notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, and five others.

The IG had earlier set up a four-man Special Investigative Panel (SIP) headed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigations, DIG, Joseph Egbunike, to investigate all the allegations contained in the in the relevant US court documents served the Nigeria Police by the FBI.

A statement issued by the police service commission Sunday afternoon, said the suspension took effect from July 31, 2021.

The PSC statement read:”The Police Service Commission has suspended Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force from the exercise of the Powers and functions of his office.

“Abba Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31st 2021 and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States” .
The statement said “the Commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action.

“The Commission’s decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/vol/V/138 to the Inspector General of Police today, Sunday, August 1st, 2021, was signed by Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner 1 in the Commission for the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police who is currently on leave”.