The Nigerian police boss has recommended that Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police indicted by American authorities for allegedly being in bed with a notorious fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi, should be suspended.
Inspector-general of Usman Alkali Baba made the recommendation to the Police Service Commission in a July 31 letter.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of ongoing internal investigations touching on him,” Nigerian police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement on Sunday morning.
Mba said the suspension is expected to create an enabling environment for a police panel to carry out internal investigations. He, however, said the suspension does not imply that Kyari has been found guilty.
The four-man panel is set up to investigate all the allegations against the police officer, who is also the head of the influential intelligence Response Team, a unit that has been instrumental in the arrests of high-profile criminals.
The top cop also allegedly sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest as proof to Hushpuppi.
“Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment,” the Department of Justice said in the statement.
Despite the damning evidence presented by the FBI, Kyari denied being complicit in any new crime. He insisted Vincent was arrested and released based on an allegation of threat to life.
