Opposition Peoples Democratic Party has asked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to order the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to interrogate the allegations against a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Kyari was cited in a document released Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, relating to a suspect, Ramon Abbas, aka, Hushpuppi, currently standing trial for alleged fraud in America.
The party made this known in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Abba Kyrai: PDP Demands Full Investigation,’ and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the United States District Court for the Central District of California said Hushpuppi used Kyari to arrest and jail a co-conspirator, Chibuzo Vincent, after the latter allegedly threatened to expose a $1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.
According to the document, Hushpuppi worked with 28-year-old Abdulrahman Juma from Kenya, and 40-year-old Chibuzo Vincent from Nigeria. Other are Yusuf Anifowoshe, 26; Rukayat Fashola, 28; and Bolatito Agbabiaka, 34.
The document added that Hushpuppi allegedly hunted Vincent after a dispute broke out among the team and after the latter threatened to expose the fraud to the Qatari businessman.
But in a Facebook post on Thursday, Kyari explained that Hushpuppi called his office and reported a death threat from someone about two years ago.
The cop said the suspect, Vincent, was arrested but later released after investigations revealed that “they are long time friends who have money issues between them”. Kyari also said he did not receive any money from Hushpuppi.
Reacting in its statement, the PDP demanded a forensic investigation into the allegations against Kyari.
The statement reads, in part, “It is, indeed, disquieting that the integrity of our nation has fallen so abysmally low under the corrupt and fraud-patronising President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress administration.
“Our party demands that the APC administration should not sweep this matter under the carpet, given the manifest rapport between Kyari and some top APC leaders.
“We urge President Buhari to… immediately restore the integrity and image of our nation by allowing for a forensic investigation.
“The PDP, therefore, asks President Buhari to direct the Inspector General of Police to take in Abba Kyari for questioning and if found culpable, he should be handed over to the FBI.”
Earlier in a plea agreement document sighted by The PUNCH on Wednesday, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty as charged.
The document was signed by Hushpuppi; his lawyer, Loius Shapiro; and Acting United States Attorney, Tracy Wilkison, among others.
It stated that Hushpuppi risks “20 years’ imprisonment; a three-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offence.”
The document, however, did not mention the date of the plea hearing.