The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate suspension of Abba Kyari (a Deputy Commissioner of Police), who is Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force over the raging allegation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America.
DCP Abba Kyari is to remain suspended pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations touching on him.
The Inspector General of Police, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
He added that the suspension is to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari without interference. A statement today, August 1, by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba said that the suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
The statement said that the Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID). “The SIP, inter alia, is to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari by the US Government as contained in relevant documents that have been availed the NPF by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The SIP is also to obtain detailed representation of DCP Abba Kyari to all the allegations levelled against him, conduct further investigations as it deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on the matter.”
The police boss reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of the officer throughout the period of the investigations.
