THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations following his recent indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America.
A statement signed by Commissioner of Police, Mr Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Louis Edet House, Abuja, disclosed this on Saturday.
The statement said the IGP transmitted the recommendation for Mr Kyari’s suspension in a letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noting that the suspension is in line with the internal disciplinary processes in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The IGP, Mr Mba said, noted that the suspension is expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Kyari without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer, the statement said.
The SIP, comprising four senior police officers, is headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike, who is in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).
The SIP is mandated to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations; obtain detailed representation of DCP Kyari; conduct further investigation as it (SIP) deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on all the allegations against DCP Kyari by the FBI as contained in relevant documents that it (FBI) has forwarded to the NPF.
The IGP reaffirmed the commitment of the NPF to the rule of law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of Mr Kyari throughout the period of the investigations.
