The Police Service Commission has directed the
Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to deepen investigations into the
connection between the suspended erstwhile head of the Intelligence Response
Team, Abba Kyari, and an internet scammer, Abbas Ramon, commonly known as
Hushpuppi.
The commission, it was learnt, gave the IG two weeks to turn
in the report which would be reviewed by the PSC Standing Committee on
Discipline.
The directive to the IG was sequel to the advice from the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami,
SAN.
A four-man Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy
Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations
Department, Joseph Egbunike, had earlier probed Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of
Police.
Kyari had been suspended in July 2021 for alleged
involvement in a $1.1 million Internet fraud allegedly perpetrated by Hushpuppi
and four others; AbdulRahman Juma
(Abdul); Vincent Chibuzo (Kelly); Rukayat Fashola (Morayo); and Bolatito
Agbabiaka (Bolamide).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation had alleged that
Hushpuppi paid $20,600 to two bank accounts allegedly provided by Kyari on
January 20, 2020.
Kyari denied wrongdoing.
It was gathered on Wednesday that the AGF said the facts
contained in the police investigation report were not strong enough to convict
the DCP.
Malami was said to have informed the commission that the
police investigation on Kyari was not water-tight and that more facts were
needed to establish the relationship between the ex-IRT commander and
Hushpuppi, who is awaiting sentencing after striking a plea bargain deal with
the United States authorities.
Based on the AGF’s advice, the commission was said to have
asked the IG to carry out a further probe into Kyari’s relationship with
Hushpuppi.
A senior official, who confided in our correspondent,
stated, “The advice from the AGF is that the case needs further investigation;
that the evidence produced on Abba Kyari was not enough to convict him despite
the fact that they have established a prima facie case against him. But the
facts cannot convict him in the court of law.
“So, the police report was returned and the IG was asked to
set up a special panel to look at the case. We have given them just a short
period of two weeks to turn in their report.
“The final report is expected to return to the standing
committee which will review and send recommendations to the plenary where the
final decision on Kyari will be taken.”
Meanwhile, spokesman, US Attorney Office for Central
District of California, Thom Mrozek, has said Hushpuppi would be sentenced on
February 14.
According to BBC Pidgin, Mrozek, however, did not state the
jail terms, which is expected to be between 10 and 18 years.
“He may be subjected to removal from the United States once
he completes his prison sentence,” he said.
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