FBI, IGP can do nothing to Kyari — Police Service Commission

Head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team and CP Abba Kyari cannot be disciplined or arrested in Nigeria by either the FBI or the Nigerian police.

He’s not criminalised yet.

The FBI indicted him, and an American court ordered his arrest for receiving a bribe from Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi whose cyber-fraud ring defrauded a Qatari businessman to the tune of $1 million.

Hushpuppi induced Kyari to detain an accomplice  for one month during the scheme in 2020. The detainee allegedly threatened the family of the UAE-based con man.

Although IGP Usman Baba has ordered the review of the FBI allegation, the Police Service Commission (PSC), has stated no authority can discipline Kyari now.

Except the PSC.

According to the commission, whatever the IGP says is not binding.

“We are the final decision-maker on his fate as a police officer,” the commission’s media handler, Commissioner Austin Braimoh, told the Punch.

“Everything concerning his indictment can be investigated and the criminal aspect of it can be sent to the law court but on the official aspect concerning discipline; no other body has power to do anything to him as a police officer.”

The commission said the Nigerian law will determine the various punishments that can be served out to him.

“He can be dismissed depending on the gravity of the offence; we can demote him, reduce his rank; we can suspend him.”

The disciplinary process starts from query, then interrogation by the Force Disciplinary Committee.

Whatever the outcome, the IGP will forward it to the PSC, and it will re-investigate the suspect.

For the fact that the US has yet to criminalize Kyari, the CP can still carry on until the PSC investigation indicts him, according to Braimoh.