Hushpuppi: No respite yet for Abba Kyari yet, PSC orders fresh investigation

There is no respite for the former Head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, in the investigation of allegations against him in the fraud scandal involving Abbas Ramon, known as Hushpuppi, being investigated, and prosecuted in the United States. The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, had earlier appointed a four-man Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, on the matter which had submitted report of its findings.

DCP Kyari was suspended from service in July 2021 after the allegation of his involvement in the $1.1 million Internet fraud committed by Hushpuppi and four others, who include AbdulRahman Juma (Abdul); Vincent Chibuzo (Kelly); Rukayat Fashola (Morayo); and Bolatito Agbabiaka (Bolamide). Hushpuppi had since pleaded guilty to the charges for which he was being prosecuted.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. had revealed that Hushpuppi allegedly paid $20,600 to two bank accounts provided by Kyari on January 20, 2020. Kyari refuted the allegation, but was, however, suspended from the service of the Nigerian Police Force.

The Police Service Commission had resolved to conduct deeper investigation, and therefore, ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to conduct deeper investigations into the link of Abba Kyari to Abbas Ramon, Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to charges of internet scams in the US.

The PSC was said to be acting on the legal advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in ordering for fresh investigations into the allegations against Kyari.

The PSC was gathered to have issued the IG two weeks duration to conclude the fresh investigation and submit the report for review by the PSC Standing Committee on Discipline.