Hushpuppi: Six Months After FBI Indictment, IGP Submits Report To PSC On Abba Kyari

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Inspector-General Usman Baba has finally submitted disciplinary recommendations on the alleged role of the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Abba Kyari a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to the Police, it was learnt yesterday.

The submission to the Service Commission (PSC) was months after he received the report of the probe panel. Kyari was investigated for his alleged role in a $1.1 million internet scam carried out by an Instagram influencer, Abbas Ramon (aka Hushpuppi) and four others.

The probe followed Kyari’s indictment by the United States (U.S.) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which recommended that the cop be extradited to the U.S. to face trial.

A member of the PSC, Braimoh Adogame Austin, who told our correspondent in Abuja said the commission will start deliberations on the issue this week.

The Dubai Police in the United Arab Emirates had in June 2020 arrested Hushpuppi and his gang. They were later extradited to the US for prosecution by the FBI.

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

Kyari had taken to Facebook on July 29, 2021 to deny the allegations, but he later deleted the post after editing it about 12 times.

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

The police boss 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.

Submitting the panels’ report on August 26, Egbunike described it “as 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.

Police Affairs Minister Maigari Dingyadi had on September 14, 2021, 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.

The recommendations of the FDC will inform the commission’s decision and also determine Kyari’s future in the force.

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.”