The Police Service Commission, PSC, has suspended a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, and Head, Intelligence Response Team, IRT of the Nigeria Police Force, Abba Kyari, with effect from Saturday, July 31, 2021, over his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for his alleged involvement in a $1.1 million internet fraud, involving Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
Kyari’s suspension came few hours after the acting Inspector-General of Police,IGP, Usman Baba, recommended his “immediate suspension” from the Nigeria Police Force.
Recall that the IGP Baba, had recommended the immediate suspension of Kyari, from the service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations on the allegations touching on him.
The IGP, in his letter to the PSC, 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 had noted that Kyari’s suspension is also “expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel, SIP, to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Kyari without interference. The IGP also said, “The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
The SIP, comprising four senior police officers, is headed by Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID.
Part of the terms of reference of the SIP, inter alia, is to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations against DCP 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 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.
