PSC insists Abba Kyari be dismissed, prosecuted over links with Hushpuppi

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has emphasised immediate dismissal and prosecution of besmirched officer Abba Kyari over his involvement in the international online fraud syndicate led by Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, Peoples Gazette is reporting.

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Two sources and internal memos outlined how the police regulatory body placed the interest of the Nigeria Police Force as an institution over Kyari’s career trajectory and medals, saying his fate, if not appropriately and firmly decided, could leave an enduring blight on the country’s law enforcement.

“Allowing somebody who has embarrassed the country to keep a high-ranking position in the police could further compound our problems as a nation,” a top official said under anonymity because he was not authorised to provide details of ongoing deliberation to journalists.

“This position has been clearly conveyed to the inspector-general.”

The position of panellists at PSC led to the return of Inspector-General Alkali Baba Usman’s report last week. The police chief was given two weeks to come up with a better report or the PSC would be forced to act.

“The IGP recommended demotion of Abba Kyari from DCP [deputy police commissioner] to ACP [assistant police commissioner] and this led to the anger of the PSC,” another source at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department said.

The source said Usman was warned that presenting such a report to the PSC could attract adverse consequences, “but he didn’t listen to us.”

Kyari was suspended from office on August 1, 2021, three days after he was indicted by the FBI for conniving with Hushpuppi to defraud a Qatari businessman.

Kyari’s connection to the syndicate was uncovered after Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai and moved to the U.S. to stand trial.

The Nigerian fraudster pleaded guilty to multimillion-dollar fraud in August 2021 and has been scheduled for sentencing on July 11.