The Nigerian police are considering firing suspended DCP Abba Kyari for the roles played in the wire fraud involving Hushpuppi and other internet fraudsters and the recent cocaine deal that got him arrested by NDLEA.
According to reports by a news platform The Vanguard, there are discreet moves by the Police service commission and other police authorities in Abuja to dismiss Abba Kyari from the force, before being extradited to the United States of America to face trials in the wire fraud case.
Abba Kyari and his team were formally queried and have also been given 48 hours to explain their role in the cocaine deal by the police authorities.
However, report has it that the federal government endorsed his extradition to allow him to travel to the US and say his side of the story.
This came as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, slammed an eight-count charge against Kyari, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, following his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
According to Vanguard, the move to sack Abba Kyari is geared towards clearing the police from the mess Abba Kyari’s involvement in the shady deals has caused them.
Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
On the panel set up to investigate the suspended DCP, the Force headquarters rejected the Joseph Egbunike-led special investigation report because it lacked substance, it set up another panel but still awaits its own findings in the trial.
According to a top shot in the police who spoke on condition of anonymity, he said the committee still awaits the report of the second panel.
“They are yet to return the new investigation report to us. But whatever be the case, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice may have considered it expedient to send him to first clear himself of the allegations against him in the US.
“If he’s exonerated, then it would be easy to determine the case in Nigeria.” He opined
The extradition proceeding initiated by the AGF against Kyari is contained in FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, brought under the Extradition Act.
Kyari, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, was charged alongside four other police officers – ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu.
Equally cited as defendants in the charge filed on February 28, 2022, were two alleged drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne.
NDLEA, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, accused Kyari and the four other members of his IRT, of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.
It alleged that Kyari and his men, who are currently in its custody, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine seized from the two apprehended drug traffickers, Umeibe and Ezenwanne.
The United States Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California had ordered the FBI to arrest Kyari almost a year ago.
Kyari is the subject of an indictment in case Number 2:21-cr-00203 (also referred to as 2:21-MJ-00760 and 2:21-CR-00203-RGK), filed April 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
The US charges against Kyari read, “Count one: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years;
“Count two: Conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
“Count three: Aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting that offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami has hinted at why he filed for the application to extradite suspended DCP Abba Kyari
”The extradition application is based on Nigeria’s extradition law. The law requires the Federal High Court to make an order for the extradition to take effect. Some extradition cases have gone on appeal up to the level of the Supreme Court”. He said.