The Police Service Commission has suspended deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari following his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for alleged involvement in a $1.1m internet fraud.
The commission’s spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani said in a statement on Sunday that Kyari’s suspension took effect on Saturday, July 31, 2021.
The suspension comes just hours after the Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba recommended Kyari’s suspension from the Nigeria Police Force pending internal probe on the indictment.
The commission also urged the IGP to furnish it with information on further developments.
The statement read, “The Police Service Commission has suspended Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force from the exercise of the Powers and functions of his office.
“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.”
Kyari was cited in a document released last Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, relating to suspected internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, currently standing trial for alleged fraud in America.