… We’ve launched internal review of the allegations, say Police
Emmanuel Onani and Tunde Oyesina
Just as Nigerians were beginning to think that the last has been heard of the alleged internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi’s multi-million dollar fraud case, he stages a dramatic return to the international news scene, this time however, taking six indicted people with him, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Abba Kyari.
Kyari, the blue-eyed boy of the Nigerian Police
Force has led and busted several high profiles cases in his country. He, his
team and other sister forces were behind the present relative peace in the
southeast.
The Force spokesman, Frank Mba, in a statement
yesterday, said the Force has ordered an internal review of the allegations
leveled against Kyari.
Mba stated: “Sequel to the receipt of allegation and
indictment processes from the FBI against one of the personnel of the Nigeria
Police Force, Abba Kyari, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali
Baba, 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.”
The Nigerian communities and social media platforms
were on fire yesterday, after Otis Wright of the United States District Court
for the Central District of California has ordered the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) to arrest and detain Kyari over his alleged role in a fraud
case that caused Hushpuppi to be in USA police detention. FBI has accused Kyari
of conniving with Hushpuppi to launder money. According to court documents,
Kyari was involved in a $1.1m fraud deal.
Kyari became a person of interest to FBI after
Hushpuppi reportedly told FBI investigators that he bribed Kyari by offering
him money to arrest and jail Kelly Chibuzor Vincent, his fellow
alleged fraudster, following fall out on how to share the $1.1 million loot
received from a Qatari businessperson.
According to court documents, Vincent was alleged to
have contacted the Qatari businessperson, telling him that he was being
defrauded by Hushpuppi. An incensed Hushpuppi, on finding out the leak, told
Kyari to arrest and jail Vincent.
Kyari has since denied the allegation. However,
courts documents showed that Hushpuppi and Kyari’s transcript. The conversation
showed Hushpuppi asking Kyari to arrest Vincent for allegedly fouling his
business deal and Kyari allegedly accepting to carry out the missives.
Hushpuppi, who was arrested at United Arab Emirate
in 2020, this week, after repeatedly denying his involvement in the alleged
fraud, pleaded guilty.
It was gathered that the US prosecutor in February
and April last year, asked for a warrant to arrest Kyari. However, on Monday, Judge
Wright’s granted permission for the FBI to arrest and detain Kyari.
According to a statement by the US department of
justice, “After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed
in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria. According to the affidavit,
Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who
is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’
behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also
allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could
deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.”
Kyari, who took to his Facebook wall to counter the
allegations against him, stated: “Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi
called our office about two years ago that somebody in Nigeria seriously
threatened to kill his family here in Nigeria and he sent the person’s phone
number and pleaded we take action before the person attacks his family. We
traced and arrested the suspect and after investigations we discovered there
wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life. And that they were longtime friends
who had money issues between them; hence we released the suspect on bail to go.
He was not taken to any jail. Nobody demanded for a dim from Hushpuppi. Our
focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened. Later,
he saw some of my native clothes and caps on my social media page and said he
liked them. He was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent
about N300, 000 directly to the person’s account. The native clothes and caps,
five sets, were brought to our office, after which he sent somebody to collect
them in our office. Nobody demanded any money from Hushpuppi and nobody
collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on threat
to his family. This is the true story. Vincent is alive, he can be
contacted. For those who are celebrating
that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious Big Money, they will be disappointed
once again as our hands is clean and our record of Service for two decades is
open for everybody to see. They will continue seeing us serving our father land
and we will continue responding to all distress calls from all Nigerians
provided they are life threatening.”
Part of the transcript reads thus: Hushpuppi sending
message to Kyari, said: “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to
jail, let him go for a very long time.”
Kyari: “Ok bro, I understand I will discuss with my team who arrested
him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”
Hushpuppi: “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir, let them
deal with him like armed robber.”
Kyari: “OK I will send their account details to u.”
Hushpuppi: “He betrayed me and try (sic) to take food out my mouth, this is
great punishable sin.”
Kyari: “Yeah bro.”
Hushpuppi: “I want him to suffer for many years.”
Kyari: “Hahahaha Hahahaha.”
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