IGP Submits Panel Report On Abba Kyari, Hushpuppi

The Nation

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Usman, has submitted the probe panel report on suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, to the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Kyari was investigated over his alleged role in a $1.1m internet scam by an Instagram influencer, Abbas Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, and four others.

The probe followed Kyari’s indictment by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), which recommended that he be extradited to the US for trial.

A member of the PSC, Braimoh Adogame Austin, told our correspondent on Sunday that the commission would deliberate on the issue this week.

The Dubai Police in the United Arab Emirates had in June 2020 arrested Hushpuppi and others.

They were later extradited to the US for prosecution by the FBI.

The FBI Special Agent, Andrew Innocenti, had alleged that Hushpuppi contracted Kyari after a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Vincent, allegedly threatened to expose the alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.

Kyari is suspected to have benefitted from the proceeds of a $1.1 million internet fraud.

He had taken to Facebook on July 29 to deny the allegations, but he later deleted the post after editing it many times.

The IGP had recommended the suspension of Kyari, which the PSC carried out on July 31.

Usman had on August 2 constituted the Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, to probe the allegations.

Egbunike on August 26 submitted the panel’s report, which he said “is an outcome of a painstaking, transparent and exhaustive investigative process.”

He revealed that the report contained the case file of the probe, evidence and findings as well as testimonies from Kyari and other persons and groups linked to the matter.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, on September 14, during a television interview, said the findings and recommendations on Kyari had been submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for “legal opinion” and thereafter for presentation to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the final decision would be taken by the PSC.

Austin said: “The IGP has submitted Abba Kyari’s report to the PSC and deliberations on the matter will commence this week.”

“I can’t tell you when it was submitted but it’s now with the commission.”