Hushpuppi scandal: FBI meets with Police IG, demands Abba Kyari’s arrest
Officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to demand the arrest and extradition of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to the United States.
Four FBI agents, according to a source, met with the IGP on Thursday asking that Nigeria’s celebrated cop Kyari be taken to the United States for interrogation over his role in the activities of suspected serial internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi.
The source stated that the agents have returned on Friday (today) to ensure their demands are met, citing the urgency of the case.
“FBI agents met with the IGP yesterday (Thursday) to demand Abba Kyari’s arrest and extradition to the United States citing the urgency of the case,” Sahara Reporters quoted the source to have said.
“Four FBI agents returned to the IG’s office this morning, they are there asking the IGP to release Kyari for interrogation.”
Meanwhile, as of Thursday night, IGP Baba ordered an internal review of the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the FBI against Kyari.
This was contained in a statement issued by the force’s spokesperson Frank Mba.
The force also stated that it was committed to the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of its professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.
It assured Nigerians to further communicate developments on the case to members of the public.
The statement read, “Sequel to the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against one of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Abba Kyari, the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered an internal review of the allegations.
“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of its professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.
“Further developments on this case will be communicated to members of the public accordingly.”
Recall that a United States’ court had issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari, over his role in Hushpuppi’s multi-million naira fraud probe.
Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the FBI to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud.
Abbas was arrested in Dubai last June and has pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S. this week.
The FBI said Abbas and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money. But the top police officer claimed innocence.
American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021.
Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.
Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Mr Kyari and hold him in U.S. custody was unsealed on July 26.
Hushpuppi had narrated how he bribed Kyari to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessperson.
Abbas had asked Kyari to arrest and jail a fellow fraudster Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after both were locked in a dispute presumably over how to share the $1.1 million loot received from the Qatari businessperson.
Abbas had pleaded guilty to a multi-million fraud earlier this month and faces up to 20 years in jail.
He will be sentenced in the coming weeks and will forfeit some of his assets and his rights to appeal while also paying restitution to victims of his years-long fraud.
Kyari in a statement on Facebook has, however, dismissed the allegations of bribe.
