The House of Representatives has said it would preserve the honours conferred on the former Commander of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari until he is found guilty of the allegations against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
Kyari has been suspended by the Police Service Commission on the recommendation of the IGP, Usman Baba, pending his investigation by Nigeria’s police authorities.
The House, on June 11, 2020, honoured Kyari for his exceptional service to the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria.
The FBI has alleged an international fraudster and money laundering suspect, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, paid N8m or $20,600 to the embattled Kyari, to arrest and detain a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Kelly Vincent.
A document issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California and dated February 12, 2021, alleged that Hushpuppi contracted the services of the IRT commander after Chibuzo allegedly threatened to expose an alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.
Speaking on the scandal, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, said the DCP was still innocent until proven guilty.
Kalu said, “The position of our law is that you are innocent until you are proved guilty. It is not the only award that he has. We cannot begin to strip him of his award; he is a suspect at the moment. Lawmakers are not lawbreakers.
“The constitution says you are innocent until proved guilty. But if at the end of the day, he is convicted, then the House would have a reason to review its position. But at the moment, he is still under investigation.”
