Hushpuppi: Buhari will determine Abba Kyari’s fate, says minister by Sodiq Oyeleke

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will take the final decision on the indictment of suspended former Head of the Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The Minister of Police Affair, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, made this known on Tuesday while featuring as a guest on Channels Television programme ‘Politics Today’. He explained that after investigations had been concluded recommendations would be sent to the president for approval. FBI’s indictment The Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal complaint lodged at the United States District Court in California had listed Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi; and Kyari among six suspects indicted in a $1.1m international fraud conspiracy. The other suspects include AbdulRahman Juma (Abdul); Vincent Kelly Chibuzo (Kelly); Rukayat Motunrayo Fashola (Morayo); and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka (Bolamide). Kyari, who is popularly known as ‘super cop,’ had been under fire since the FBI, last Wednesday, unsealed a 69-page court document showing that he had been under investigation by the Bureau for his alleged link to Hushpuppi, who had pleaded guilty to fraud. In the case marked 2:21-cr-00203, USA VS Abba Alhaji Kyari dated April 29, 2021, the FBI asked a US District Court in California to order the arrest of Kyari for 10 days. Kyari suspended The PUNCH had reported that the Police Service Commission had on August 1 announced the suspension of Abba Kyari, over his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for bribery allegation. This came a few hours after the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, recommended the “immediate suspension” of Kyari, from the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP had said Kyari’s suspension was expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against him without interference. Buhari to give final approval, says minister The minister explained the Nigerian police would follow due process on Kyari’s matter. According to him, legal advice will also be sought from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation before a decision is reached. This, he said, is important because two countries are involved, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would also be concluded. He said, “The issue of Abba Kyari has become a public domain and I think by now everybody has heard that the police in their very wisdom, in their usual way of becoming transparent and fair to all have set up a committee to investigate all these allegations. “We have also reported that the committee has submitted the report to the IGP. We have also submitted this report and recommendations to the Attorney-General of the Federation for legal opinion, thereafter, we will take it to Mr.President for final consideration. “So, you can see that even though this matter is a local matter here, it has some international connotations. We have to do some due diligence to ensure that we do the right thing. We have to do some consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice before a final decision will be taken. “But what is important is that Nigerians should know that the police management is up and doing and they have done what they are supposed to do. I hope people will wait and see what actions will be taken on this matter.”