Police Service Commission has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to deepen investigations into the connection between the suspended head of the Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, and an internet scammer, Abbas Ramon, commonly known as Hushpuppi.
In July 2021, Kyari was suspended for his alleged involvement in a $1.1 million Internet fraud allegedly perpetrated by Hushpuppi and four others; AbdulRahman Juma (Abdul); Vincent Chibuzo (Kelly); Rukayat Fashola (Morayo); and Bolatito Agbabiaka (Bolamide).
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had in its report alleged that Hushpuppi paid $20,600 to two bank accounts allegedly provided by Kyari on January 20, 2020.
Hushpuppi alleged that he paid bribe to Kyari to have one of his rival, Kelly Chibuzor Vincent arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million scam (N583,300,000) of a Qatari businessperson.
When summoned by the police hierarchy, Kyari denied any wrongdoing.
A four-man Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, had earlier probed Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Read Also: Breaking: Police Commission Suspends Abba Kyari Over FBI Indictment
Acting on a piece of advice given by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the PSC gave the IG two weeks to turn in the report which would be reviewed by PSC Standing Committee on Discipline, ThePunch reports.
Malami was said to have informed the commission that the police investigation on Kyari was not water-tight and that more facts were needed to establish the relationship between the ex-IRT commander and Hushpuppi, who is awaiting sentencing after striking a plea bargain deal with the United States authorities.
Read Also: US Gathers 2,700 Electronic Files, 6,700-Page Documentary Evidence For Abba Kyari’s Case
Based on the AGF’s advice, the commission was said to have asked the IG to carry out a further probe into Kyari’s relationship with Hushpuppi.
A senior official, who spoke to the publication, stated;
The advice from the AGF is that the case needs further investigation; that the evidence produced on Abba Kyari was not enough to convict him despite the fact that they have established a prima facie case against him. But the facts cannot convict him in the court of law.
Read Also: Abba Kyari Collected N8m From Hushpuppi To Detain Chibuzo – FBI
The source added;
So, the police report was returned and the IG was asked to set up a special panel to look at the case. We have given them just a short period of two weeks to turn in their report.
The final report is expected to return to the standing committee which will review and send recommendations to the plenary where the final decision on Kyari will be taken.
The AGF had told the PSC that more investigations needed to be carried out on any link between Kyari and Hushpuppi as the facts contained in the police investigation report were not strong enough to convict Kyari.
The final report is expected to return to the standing committee which will review and send recommendations to the plenary where the final decision on Kyari will be taken.
Read Also: Hushpuppi: IGP Receives Report On Probe Of Bribery Allegations Against DCP Abba Kyari
Meanwhile, spokesman, US Attorney Office for Central District of California, Thom Mrozek, has said Hushpuppi would be sentenced on February 14.
According to BBC Pidgin, Mrozek, however, did not state the jail terms, which is expected to be between 10 and 18 years.
Read Also: US Court: Hushpuppi To Be Sentenced On Valentine’s Day
“He may be subjected to removal from the United States once he completes his prison sentence,” he said.
