The House of Representatives has made it clear that a former Commander of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, will remain its honouree until he is found guilty of the allegations levelled against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has already suspended Kyari on the recommendation of the IGP, Usman Baba, pending his investigation by Nigeria’s police authorities.
The House, on June 11, 2020, honoured Kyari for his exceptional service to the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria.
The invitation and honour followed a motion moved by the member representing Chibok Federal Constituency in Borno State, Ahmad Jaha, two days earlier.
Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, was invited into the chamber to appear before the lawmakers in plenary.
However, the FBI has alleged an international fraudster and money laundering suspect, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, paid N8m or $20,600 to the embattled Kyari, to arrest and detain a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Kelly Vincent.
When contacted to speak on the honour bestowed on Kyari, after being named in the scandal, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, said the DCP was still innocent until proven guilty.
Kalu said, “The position of our law is that you are innocent until you are proved guilty. It is not the only award that he has. We cannot begin to strip him of his award; he is a suspect at the moment. Lawmakers are not lawbreakers.
“The constitution says you are innocent until proved guilty. But if at the end of the day, he is convicted, then the House would have a reason to review its position. But at the moment, he is still under investigation.”
The FBI criminal complaint lodged at the United States District Court in California had listed Hushpuppi and Kyari among six suspects indicted in a $1.1m international fraud conspiracy.
The other suspects include AbdulRahman Juma (Abdul); Vincent Kelly Chibuzo (Kelly); Rukayat Motunrayo Fashola (Morayo); and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka (Bolamide).
Kyari, who is popularly known as ‘super cop,’ has been under fire since the FBI, last Wednesday, unsealed a 69-page court document showing that he was under investigation by the bureau for his alleged link to Hushpuppi, who had pleaded guilty to fraud.
