Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, has been suspended over the indictment by FBI.
In a criminal complaint lodged at the United States District Court in California, FBI had listed Kyari among six suspects indicted in an international fraud conspiracy.
The fraud was said to have been orchestrated by Ramon Abbas, Instagram celebrity, better known as Hushpuppi.
According to FBI, Hushpuppi, who is currently standing trial in the US, had sent some money to Kyari to help track down one of his rivals.
Although Kyari had denied the allegation, the FBI had asked Nigerian authorities to arrest him.
In a statement on Sunday, Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the Police Service Commission, said Kyari’s suspension took effect on Saturday.
“Abba Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31st 2021 and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.”
“The Commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action.
“The Commission’s decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/vol/V/138 to the Inspector General of Police today, Sunday, August 1st, 2021, was signed by Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner 1 in the Commission for the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police who is currently on leave,” the statement read.
