How Abba Kyari and Hushpuppi got entangled over multimillion dollar scam

The Nigerian Police Service Commission has announced the suspension of Abba Kyari, who is a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) with Nigeria Police Force.

The commission in a statement Said Kyari’s suspension will take effect from Saturday, July 31 and will remain until they conclude investigation on the accusations against him.

His suspension is coming after Nigeria Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba recommended the suspension of Kyari, who allegedly took bribes from international fraudster Hushpuppi aka Ramon Abbas.

Trouble started following the internal review of the allegations made by the United States’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against one of the staff of the police, DCP Abba Kyari.

Earlier in July, the Nigeria police said it had opened an investigation after allegation and indictment from the FBI against DCP Abba Kyari.

According to a statement from the police spokesperson Frank Mba, the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba ordered the internal review of the allegations as says the police is committed to the pursuit of justice.

The Director of Media Relations with the US Department Of Justice, Thom Mrozek who confirmed the order of arrest to newsmen also said, an order for the arrest of two other defendants who are associated with Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas in his wire fraud operation have been issued.

According to US court documents, Hushpuppi alleged that bribed Kyari to arrest one Vincent Chibuzo.

The DoJ document revealed that this was after Vincent tried to expose the operation and inform the alleged victim of their scam.

Abba Kyari Facebook response

The allegations against Abba Kyari is based on facts that Hushpuppi presented to court as part of his Affidavit for his wire fraud case.

Abba Kyari has denied collecting money from Hushpuppie. In a bizarre Facebook post, the police officer said he never met hushpuppie in person. He said the only money he collected from the fraudster was so he could buy and deliver 5 pieces of native attires, that he claimed hushpuppie saw on his social media page and liked. Kyari further admitted to arresting Vincent, but said he was released after they found that he and hushpuppie only had dispute over money.

How Abba Kyari got entangled with Hushpuppi

Trouble started for Abba Kyari after Nigerian Instagram celebrity Ramon Abass aka ‘Hushpuppi’ pleaded guilty to Count Two of the charges against him in a US court, which were Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering.

The case which is United States v. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, Case No. 2:20-CR-00322-ODW, charged Abbas with Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). Part of what is before the court is also an allegation saying Abbas bribed a top Nigerian police officer with proceeds from his crimes.

The officer alleged in this charge is Abba Kyari.

As it is, Hushpuppi faces up to 20 years in prison during sentencing according to information contained in the court document.

Abba Kyari biography/profile

46-year-old DCP Abba Kyari hail from Borno state in northeast Nigeria.

He is a graduate of Geography when he joined the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 2000 after he completed his training at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano state.

One of the operations that brought Kyari to the limelight, was when he led a team of officers to arrest the notorious armed robber popularly called ‘Ndagi’ a.k.a Spirit.

Spirit had been terrorizing Numan, the third biggest town in Adamawa state northeast Nigeria.

In 2005, he joined the Mobile Police Force and in 2010 he was posted to the Lagos Command.

Kyari became the second highest ranking officer and officer-in-charge the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – the squad charged with fighting violent crimes from armed robbery, car theft, kidnapping, gang clashes, sea piracy and terrorism but which later became notorious for its brutality which led to the October 2020 ENDSARS protest.

He served with SARS for five years.