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  • I Didn’t Exonerate Abba Kyari, But Asked For Further Probe – Malami

    I Didn’t Exonerate Abba Kyari, But Asked For Further Probe – Malami

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said the legal advice by his office recommended further investigation of suspended DCP Abba Kyari.

    The report of the office of the AGF in a legal advice no: DPPA/LA/814/21, written on behalf of the AGF by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the ministry, Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the evidence contained in the case diary had no link between DCP Abba Kyari and fraudster, Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, in the $1.1million internet scam.

    Malami had in a recent TV interview, reported by Daily Trust, admitted there were prima facie evidence against Kyari, adding that extradition moves are ongoing in the matter.

    But in a statement by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu on Sunday, Malami said media reports about a contradiction in his stance on the matter show a misunderstanding and misconception of the issue.

    “The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice’s stance is that no conclusion has been reached in the direction of absence of evidence relating to the first report,” he said.

    “The issues were raised for further investigation with a view to cover the field in investigation with a view to arrive at an informed decision.”

    Based on an indictment by the FBI, the police set up a panel to probe Kyari.

  • Hushpuppi: No Evidence Abba Kyari Laundered Money – Says Malami

    Hushpuppi: No Evidence Abba Kyari Laundered Money – Says Malami

    There are strong indications that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, may be plotting to save a former Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, from facing criminal prosecution for alleged money laundering.

    Weeks after directing the police to probe him for allegedly receiving 33 proceeds of crime, stating that a case of money laundering had been established against Kyari, the justice minister in a new legal advice said there was no evidence to show that money was laundered by the senior police officer.

    Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1m scam carried out by a notorious Internet scammer, Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi, was suspended by the police last July.

    He is also facing eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine, and other related offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 are four members of the IRT, Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu.

    Two other suspects arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were also listed as defendants.

    Sequel to the report of the Special Investigation Panel which probed Kyari’s alleged links to Hushpuppi, the AGF affirmed in January that investigations carried out by the police indicted the former IRT commander for money laundering.

    Malami, in a legal advice, therefore, directed the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to carry out further investigations, noting that a prima facie case of money laundering had been established against the DCP.

    He also said the force should intensify investigation into 33 crime proceeds received by the ex-IRT commander.

    Our correspondent had exclusively reported that police investigations revealed how the international scammers led by Hushpuppi paid N235,120,000 to Kyari’s younger brother.

    The police report also said Kyari equally funnelled N44mn into his sibling’s bank account in multiple transactions.

    The AGF’s legal advice read in part, “That there exists prima facie case of conspiracy, collaboration, receipt, conversion, transfer and/or retention of proceeds of unlawful activities contrary to the provision of sections 15, 17 & 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, Cap E, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, against DCP Abba Kyari and other suspects in view of the overwhelming evidence showing the nature of his disguised financial transactions and activities with Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waziri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus, who are all confirmed members of an international Internet fraud network.

    “Although the facts and circumstances of this case as contained in the case file are suggestive to money laundering offences against DCP Abba Kyari and his accomplices namely: Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waziri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus; to successfully prosecute them, there is a need for a more thorough dissecting and tracing of the suspected 33 proceeds of crime received by DCP Abba Kyari directly or indirectly through the said accomplices.”

    However, Malami, in his latest advice contradicted his January directive that Kyari should be probed for money laundering and for receiving 33 proceeds of crime.

    In a letter dated February 4, 2022, with reference number, DPPA/LA/814/21, the AGF sought to exonerate the embattled senior officer, saying there was no link between Kyari and the Hushpuppi gang.

    According to the letter written on behalf of the AGF by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, the evidence contained in the case diary “was not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies (N279mn) were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin.”

    The new position of the attorney-general was contained in a letter titled, ‘Re: Forwarding of the investigation report of the Nigeria Police Force Special Investigation Team and request for legal advice with regards to allegations of criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting Internet fraud, wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering against DCP Abba Kyari’.

    The letter addressed to the IG, read in part, “I am directed to inform you that after a careful study of the said response wherein you stated that ‘the monies have been traced to Zenith Bank account no. 2255416115 belonging to Usman Ibrahim Waziri; Guaranty Trust Bank account no. 0130665392 belonging to Adekoya Sikiru; Zenith Bank account no. 2080537566 belonging to Hussein Ala and other funds went to Sharon Festus. The monies were withdrawn and utilised by the aforementioned account holders and the lady.

    “It is our view that the above response has not linked the suspect, DCP Abba Kyari, to the offence of money laundering as the evidence contained in the case diary is not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin, more so that the aforementioned recipients or receivers exonerated him in their statements as having nothing to do with the monies.”

    The justice minister said the police might wish to explore their internal disciplinary measures against Kyari through the Police Service Commission for breaching the code of conduct for law enforcement officers by hobnobbing with suspected fraudsters and people of questionable means in his capacity as a senior officer and head of the IRT.

    Malami also said Kyari could be sanctioned for violating the social media policy of the police by responding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s indictment on Facebook; breaching the Police Code of Professional Ethics by accepting complaints and acting on such without recourse to established protocol and detaining a suspect, Vincent Chibuzor, for over a month without a valid court order and regards to his fundamental human rights.

    But the DPP said the AGF’s new position was based on the police report, noting that the police failed to probe the gaps identified in their investigation by the ministry.

    Abubakar insisted that the ministry did not say there was no evidence of money laundering against Kyari.

    The DPP stated, “We said in the absence of the evidence, further investigation is needed and they should go ahead to try him on the administrative offences they have identified. We said they (police) should establish linkages – the money trail.

    “Instead of them to go and investigate further the gaps we identified, they didn’t. They just wrote back to say ‘check paragraphs so and so’. We are saying no, those paragraphs did not sufficiently establish the things we say you should establish.”

    Meanwhile, the police have yet to submit a fresh report on Kyari as directed by the PSC.

    The commission had rejected the police investigation on Kyari carried out by the SIP led by DIG Joseph Egbunike. It ordered a fresh one, which should have been submitted on February 25.

    Despite establishing the fact that a total of N279.120mn flowed to the younger Kyari’s bank account at various times from the cyber scam syndicate members, the panel failed to invite or interrogate him.

  • Don’t Transfer Us to Prison, Abba Kyari, others Beg Court

    Don’t Transfer Us to Prison, Abba Kyari, others Beg Court

    The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who is facing a drug trafficking charge, on Monday, begged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja not to remand him in prison custody.

    Kyari, through his lawyer, Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, prayed the court to allow him to remain in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, pending the hearing and determination of his fresh application for bail.

    The embattled DCP, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, made the request after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge the NDLEA preferred against him and six others.

    He was docked before trial Justice Emeka Nwike, alongside four other police officers- ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

    Whereas Kyari, dressed in blue native attire, and his police Co-Defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge, the 6th and 7th Defendants, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, pleaded guilty to allegations against them.

    Meanwhile, shortly after the Defendants entered their plea, the NDLEA, through its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr Joseph Sunday, applied for a trial date and for review of facts in respect of the Defendants that pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The NDLEA equally told the court that it filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the release of Kyari and the other four former members of the Police IRT, on bail.

    However, Agabi, SAN, while arguing that the charge against the Defendants contained bailable offences, he urged the court not to accede to request for facts in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne.

    Agabi, SAN, contended that it will be prejudicial to his client for facts of the case to be reviewed and a decision reached on it, while the trial is still subsisting.

    He further made reference to cases where Defendants, out of ignorance, pleaded guilty to a charge against them.

    “It is not in the interest of justice for the facts to be reviewed while the trial is still ongoing”, he added.

    He noted that both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were also mentioned in some counts in the charge that involved Kyari and the others.

    On his part, the Prosecution counsel, Mr. Sunday, maintained that reviewing the facts of the case would not prejudice DCP Kyari and the others.

    “My lord, this sort of application by the Defence is to undermine the capacity of this court.

    “This case is to be considered on the basis of the evidence before the court. I do not see how the 1st to 5th Defendants will be prejudiced since we are going to confront them with evidence against them”.

    “The most proper thing is to dispose of the case against the 6th and 7th Defendants.

    “It will be unjust and unfair to keep the two Defendants in custody while waiting for the conclusion of the trial of the others.

    “It is better for them to be convicted to enable them to start serving their sentence”, the Prosecution added.

    After he had listened to oral arguments from both sides, trial Justice Nwite said he would want the parties to formally address the court on the issue next Monday.

    More details soon…

  • Abba Kyari Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Drug Trafficking Charges

    Abba Kyari Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Drug Trafficking Charges

    Suspended police officer Abba Kyari on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The NDLEA had filed eight counts of hard drugs trafficking against Mr Kyari, who is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with convicted fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

    He was arraigned on Monday along with six others before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Mr Kyari, before his suspension, was a former Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    Those arraigned along with Mr Kyari include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

    Mr Abba Kyari was arraigned in an Abuja court on March 7, 2022 over drug trafficking related offences. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television
    Mr Abba Kyari (L) was arraigned in an Abuja court on March 7, 2022 over drug trafficking related offences. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television

    While the other defendants also pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them, the sixth and seventh defendants, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven.

    According to the NDLEA, Mr Kyari, between January 19 and 25, dealt in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine.

    He is also being charged with obstruction of justice through attempted bribery of NDLEA officers.

  • NDLEA files 8-count Charge Against Abba Kyari, 6 others

    NDLEA files 8-count Charge Against Abba Kyari, 6 others

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Thursday, filed an eighth-count criminal charge against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, and six others it alleged were involved in drug trafficking.

    The other Defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, which the agency lodged before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, were four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

    NDLEA, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, specifically accused DCP Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in Cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

    It equally alleged that Kyari and his men, who are currently in its custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of Cocaine.

    The duo of Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large, to import 21.35kg of Cocaine into the country.

    The NDLEA entered the charge against them, barely 24 hours after the Attorneys-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, okayed request for Kyari who hitherto headed the Police IRT, to be extradited to the United States of America, USA, to face trial over his alleged involvement with an internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hussipuppi.

    Malami had in the extradition application he also brought before the court, claimed that no charge was pending against DCP Kyari in Nigeria.

  • Court declines Abba Kyari’s bail application

    Court declines Abba Kyari’s bail application

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, refused to grant the bail application of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, said the application had been overtaken by events following an order of a sister court, granting the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s prayers to detain Kyari for another 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigation.

    Justice Ekwo held that the sister court, which gave the order in favour of NDLEA on February 22, was a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

    The judge, however, said he was inclined to hear Kyari’s fundamental enforcement rights suit with the urgency it deserves after the expiration of the 14-day court order.

    He then adjourned until March 15 to hear Kyari’s application to demand his fundamental right enforcement.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Zainab Abubakar of FHC sitting in Abuja had granted the agency’s application to have Kyari and others suspects linked to the alleged drug trafficking detained for 14 more days to complete its investigation.

    NAN also reports that Kyari, through his lawyer, had, on February 21, approached the court with an ex-parte motion and originating summons seeking bail and asking the court to enforce his fundamental human rights which he alleged had been breached by unlawful arrest and detention.

    Kyari, in the main suit, urged the court to make an order directing the NDLEA to pay him N500 million for infringing on his rights.

    He also asked the court to direct the agency to tender a public apology in national dailies.

    Justice Ekwo fixed today for hearing the bail application and directed Kyari’s lawyer to put NDLEA on notice and serve the agency with the hearing notice.

  • Court extends detention order on detained DCP, Abba Kyari

    Court extends detention order on detained DCP, Abba Kyari

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday extended the detention of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, by 14 days.

    The court granted permission to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to hold the embattled Kyari for the period to enable the agency to complete its investigation into the hard drug trafficking allegations against him.

    Justice Zainab Abubakar issued the order for Kyari’s further detention while ruling in an ex-parte application argued by the NDLEA counsel, Mr Mike Kassa.

    The NDLEA had, in the application, pleaded for more time to detain Kyari on the ground that the hard drug trafficking allegations against the suspect were complex and may require the agency travelling outside the shore of the country to make some clarifications.

    The counsel asked the court to grant the detention extension in the interest of justice and to be fair to the suspect too through diligent investigation.

    In a short ruling, Justice Abubakar ordered that Abba Kyari be detained for another 14 days.

    The judge however ordered that the 14 days further detention should start counting from February 22.

    Details later.

  • Abba Kyari Drags FG to Court, Seeks Bail On Health Grounds

    Abba Kyari Drags FG to Court, Seeks Bail On Health Grounds

    The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who is currently in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, on Monday, took the Federal Government to court.

    Kyari, in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, is praying the court to compel the NDLEA to grant him bail on health grounds, pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental right enforcement application.

    In an ex-parte motion, he filed through his lawyer, Mrs P. O. Ikenna, the embattled former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, told the court that he was being held “on the basis of a false allegation that was levelled against him”.

    However, when the case was called up, Justice Inyang Ekwo, noted that the suit contained some averments that would require FG’s response.

    “Upon studying the process of the Applicant and averments in support thereon, I am of the opinion that the Respondent should be put on notice”, the Judge held.

    Effort my counsel to the Applicant to persuade the court to order Kyari’s release on the ground that “his health has deteriorated badly”, failed.

    Rather, Justice Ekwo ordered that all the relevant processes should be served on FG which was cited as the sole Respondent, even as he adjourned the case till February 24 for hearing.

    Details later…

  • Court Refuses To Order Abba Kyari’s Release From NDLEA Custody

    Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to order the Federal Government to release the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, from the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The judge rather ordered that Kyari put the Federal Government on notice of the existence of the suit he instituted against it.

    The suspended DCP had taken the Federal Government before the court, challenging his continued detention by the agency. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, Kyari sought an order of the court to immediately release him and in the alternative, the suspended DCP, who is being held by the NDLEA over his alleged involvement in hard drug trafficking, asked the court to admit him to bail in liberal conditions.

    In an ex-parte application by his counsel, Cynthia Ikena, Kyari claimed to be suffering from diabetes and hypertension and needs urgent medical attention.

    In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo declined to order his immediate release but ordered him to put the respondent( FG), on notice. The judge ordered him to go and serve all processes he filed on the Federal Government.

    Justice Ekwo held that all averments and allegations made against the Federal Government are weighty that the court must give the government the opportunity to hear from it before taking any step. He, thereafter, fixed February 24 for the parties to appear before him.

  • Police Recommend Abba Kyari for Demotion

    Police Recommend Abba Kyari for Demotion

    By Joyce Babayeju

    The Nigeria Police Force Disciplinary Committee has recommended the demotion of former Commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    It was gathered that the Committee reviewed the report of the Special Investigation Panel that investigated Kyari over an indictment by an affidavit of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation,

    Kyari was reportedly found to have collaborated with suspected wire fraudsters and also violated the social media policies of the Nigeria Police Force by responding to the FBI’s indictment on his Facebook page without recourse to laid down procedures.

    The Police have begun further investigations against the suspended DCP following observations by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

    Malami had observed that there exists a prima facie against Kyari but the Police report was too watery to nail him in Court.

    He had said, “That there exists a prima facie case of conspiracy, collaboration, receipt, conversion, transfer and/or retention of proceeds of unlawful activities contrary to the provision of Section 15, 17 & 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Est) Act, Cap EI Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 against DCP Abba Kyari and other suspects in view of the overwhelming evidence showing the nature of his disguised financial transactions and activities Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) and others.”

    Kyari was also on monday accused of sundry drug offences and has been taken into custody by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission has given the Police a two-week ultimatum to conclude further investigation into the allegation against Kyari.