* My hands are clean, insists top cop
A United States court has issued a warrant of arrest for a celebrated Nigerian police detective, Mr. Abba Kyari.
Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FIB) to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his alleged role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi and his co-conspirators.
The court said Hushpuppi allegedly conspired with five others to defraud the businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance the construction of a school in Qatar.
The five include Abdulrahman Juma from Kenya, 28; Chibuzo Vincent from Nigeria, 40; Yusuf Anifowoshe, 26; Rukayat Fashola 28 and Bolatito Agbabiaka, 34.
However, Hushpuppi allegedly hunted Vincent after a dispute broke out among the team after the latter threatened to expose the fraud to the Qatari businessman.
“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,” the statement partly reads.
Hushpuppi, 37, in a plea agreement document he personally signed, pleaded guilty to the charges including money laundering, wire fraud, felony amongst others.
He risks 20 years’ imprisonment and other penalties when convicted.
He reportedly admitted to committing money laundering in a school financing scam and a additional cyber and business email compromise schemes, links DCP Abba Kyari to the activities of four other Nigerians in the execution of an international scheme to defraud a Qatari school founder of over $1million.
The Report of US Federal investigators accused DCP Kyari of collecting monies from Hushpuppi to arrest one Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, an accomplice of Hushpuppi, in Nigeria after he (Vincent) betrayed Hushpuppi and informed a victim that he was being scammed after having a dispute with his gang.
“Court documents outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria,” the report said.
The report further described Abba Kyari as “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 has however denied receiving any money from Hushpuppi.
He said: “Friends: Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2 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 they are long time friends who have money issues between them hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.
“Nobody demanded for a kobo from Abbas 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 he said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent about N300k directly to the person’s account. The native clothes and caps (5 sets) were brought to our office and He sent somebody to Collect them in our office.
“Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on threat to his family and released the Suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the Suspect. 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 are clean and our record of service for 2 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.
“For Good Nigerians who appreciate our service please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false narratives without any evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors. Thank you all and God bless Nigeria.”