The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it may either demote, dismiss or suspend Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari if he is found guilty of any criminal collaboration with the self-confessed international fraudster, Abbas Ramon, aka Hushpuppi.
Hushpuppi is facing criminal investigations in a Carlifornia, USA court on charges of money laundering and may face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
He indicted DCP Kyari in the case of arrest of a fellow fraudster who tried to dupe Hushpuppi of the proceeds of a $1.1 million internet scam targeted at a Qatari businessman.
Hushpuppi said he paid a yet to be specified sum of money to the celebrated Nigerian Police officer. The later denied receiving any money from Hushpuppi saying he only tried to assist when he got a distress call from Ramoni for which no money was paid to him.
However, the FBI investigations gives a detailed interaction with the DCP and Ramoni.
Speaking to Punch on Friday, the Commissioner of Police in charge of media on the board of the (PSC), Austin Braimoh said the Commission would not be bound on the internal revue of the IGP.
He said the PSC would carry out further investigations on whatever finding the police authorities make on Kyari.
According to Braimoh, “The Commission won’t say anything until we get the official report. We are the final decision maker on his fate as a police officer. Everything concerning his indictment can be investigated and the criminal aspect of it can be sent to the law court but on the official aspect concerning discipline, no other body has power to do anything to him as a police officer. It is only the Commission that has such powers.
“So, the commission is awaiting the full report of investigation and his indictment and we will treat it officially; we would apply the law. The law will determine the various punishments that we can award against him. He can be dismissed depending on the gravity of the offence; we can demote him, reduce his rank, we can suspend him.
“Many things are laid out before us pertaining to various offences and after that, the criminal aspect would be referred to the court for prosecution. It depends on how the report is coming; whether it is coming to us directly for us to extricate the criminal aspect and treat it or they want to treat it and refer the official one to us to discipline him.
The PSC spokesman further disclosed that Kyari – Commander of the IG Intelligence Response Team – would be queried after which he would be interrogated by the Force Disciplinary Committee.
Braimoh noted that, “We don’t always believe the police should investigate the police (personnel) except through the Commission. But the important thing is that whatever thing they decide to do, we are not obliged to accept their investigations. So, our investigation department would still go further to get the facts.
“What we know they would do is that a query would be issued based on the complaints against him, he would be asked to defend himself and then, he would face what we call the Force Disciplinary Committee which would interrogate him and the report is passed to the DIG in charge and from there to the IG.
“The IG would basically forward the final findings and recommendations to the commission. The Commission would not carry on with their own investigation; we have to re-investigate what they have done to ensure that they comply with the rule of law and what it expected.
“Our lawyer would look into it, he would check the facts and if we feel there is negligence, and that some things are not done, we would do a thorough job and eventually we would have recommendations from the standing committee to plenary for a final decision and our decision is final on his career.”
Read also:
FBI Reaches out to EFCC, Requests Arrest of Abba Kyari
Hushpuppi Fraud: We may Demote or Dismiss Abba Kyari if… – PSC
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