Nigeria Police Query Disgraced Officer, Abba Kyari Over Communications With Hushpuppi

Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has queried the suspended commander of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, following an investigation into alleged infractions committed by the disgraced police officer. 

Kyari had been accused by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of involvement in the fraudulent activities of suspected fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi. 

He was indicted by a US court as a conspirator in a $1.1 million fraudulent deal against a Qatari businessperson by Hushpuppi.

In his confession, Hushpuppi also revealed he had a close relationship with Kyari. 

The query was issued by the IGP based on the findings by the Special Investigation Panel (SIP), which investigated the alleged indictment of Kyari by the FBI.

It was also learnt that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation was also looking into the request of the FBI to have Kyari extradited to the US for trial. 

The Police Service Commission (PSC) had suspended Kyari from office as a deputy commissioner of police and head of the IRT based on the recommendation of the IGP.

It was learnt that the DIG Joseph Egbunike-led panel, which submitted its report in August, established that there were infractions on the part of Kyari in his communications with Hushpuppi.

“The IGP has issued a query to Abba Kyari based on the findings of the panel. The panel discovered that there was communication between Kyari and Hushpuppi, as well as infractions on the part of the cop, which is against the procedure of engagement of the police,” a security source told Daily Trust on Sunday.

But the source said the panel didn’t recommend the extradition of Kyari as it could not be established that the police officer committed any crime in the US.

“There is no proof that he committed any crime on the soil of the US to warrant his extradition. He will be sanctioned by the appropriate authorities here. However, it is for the AGF to advise if there is a ground to extradite him to the US, which is very unlikely,” the source added.

Spokesman for the police force, Frank Mba, in a telephone interview, disclosed that in line with the procedure of the Police, the IGP has forwarded the recommendations of the panel to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for appropriate action.

“The committee submitted its report and the IGP has forwarded their findings to the appropriate authorities, which have oversight function on the police, specifically the PSC, which I believe is currently reviewing it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Umar Gwandu, the media aide to the AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the office of the AGF would do the needful on the matter.

“In line with the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the extant laws, the AGF will do the needful,” he said. 

However, a senior police officer said it was only the PSC that could sanction Kyari as stipulated by law, which ranges from suspension to demotion and outright dismissal.