Journey To Abba Kyari’s Sack Begins; IGP Recommends Suspension To PSC, Sets Up Investigation Committee

By Akinwale  Kasali

The first step to the sack of Abba Kyari from the Nigeria Police Force has started. The step, if facts before the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, is anything to go by, is likely to end Kyari’s glittering career in the Force.

As a first step to that, the IGP has recommended, to the Police Service Commission, PSC, the immediate suspension of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

The PSC is the body empowered by the Constitution to discipline any Police Officer, except the IGP whose fate is in the hands of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

In recommending the suspension, the IGP has also set up a body to investigate the very weighty allegations against Kyari as exposed by America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.

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 said to be without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

The Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four (4) Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).

“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 (FBI). 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’s problem started when he was indicted by the FBI over claims by international Internet fraudster, Abbas Ramon, popular as Hushpuppi, that he bribed Kyari with the sum of $1.1m to arrest and deal with his colleague-fraudster, Kelly Chibuzor Vincent.

Following the indictment, a US Court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kyari, and his extradition to the US to answer to the charges.

Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of the officer throughout the period of the investigations.

DCP Kyari denies the bribe allegations in a post on his Facebook page. He said he and his team took no bribe from Hushpuppi, claiming that Hushpuppi paid the sum of N300,000 to  his (Kyari’s tailor) to make him five sets of traditional dresses which the fraudster admired on him, Kyari, when he saw his photographs in the Social Media. The dresses were delivered to Kyari’s office, and collected by someone sent by Hushpuppi.

How Kyari will swim out from the trouble waters is still a mystery to observers, who say the evidence  made available by the FBI that went viral is damning.