The Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended the embattled Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Abba Kyari.
The decision of the commission follows the recommendation by the Inspector General of Police for Kyari to be suspended pending the time investigations into allegations of corruption by the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) are concluded.
Kyari was listed as accomplice to a criminal activity by a notorious cyber-criminal, Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi has pleaded guilty to charges of cyber fraud and links were established with the senior Police officer. Kyari had initially denied involvement in the allegations as he quickly released a statement, which he has now deleted. In the statement, he claimed he was only a middleman between Hushpuppi and his tailor.
The PSC in a statement on Sunday by the Head of its Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani said it has suspended Kyari from the powers and functions of his office.
In the statement, the PSC said that “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.”
