Abba Kyari Probe: Panel Yet to Submit Report—Police

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied reports in some sections of the media that the panel instituted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, to probe the alleged involvement of a super cop, Mr Abba Kyari, in fraud has submitted its findings.

Mr Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States for being involved in a fraud.

He was said to have helped a celebrated Instagram personality, Mr Olorunwa Abbas, otherwise known as Hushpuppi, to detain one Mr Chibuzor Vincent, over a deal gone wrong and had a strong tie with him.

Hushpuppi was busted at his residence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then transferred to the US to face trial for allegedly defrauding a businessman of $1.1 million.

While in the US, he named Mr Kyari, which prompted the FBI to ask for his arrest. This request was granted by an American court, sparking different reactions in Nigeria because the police officer had been regarded as one of the best in the country.

He headed the Intelligent Response Team (IRT) of the police, but after his indictment, the IGP removed Mr Kyari, replacing him with Mr Tunji Disu, who once led the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos.

The nation’s police chief later recommended the suspension of Mr Kyari and this was approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

In order to get to the root of the matter, the police set up a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to look into the matter and on Tuesday, there were reports that the team, headed by Mr Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), has concluded its task.

But the spokesman of the police, Mr Frank Mba, in a statement yesterday evening, claimed that the panel was still conducting its investigation, noting that the public would be informed when the report is submitted.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public that the probe into the alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari by the FBI, being conducted by the NPF Special Investigation Panel (SIP), is still ongoing.

“Members of the public are enjoined to note that the panel has not submitted its report to the Inspector General of Police, as being wrongly reported in some news outlet and online platforms.

“The Force hereby reassures the public that the outcome of investigations by the probe panel would be communicated accordingly upon conclusion of the investigations,” the statement said.