There’s no evidence embattled Kyari laundered money – Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami may have suggested that there is no evidence linking the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari with money laundering.

This is contrary to Malami’s earlier directive to the Nigerian Police to carry out a probe into activities of DCP Abba Kyari for alledgedly receiving proceeds
of crime.

Malami’s legal advice which was reported by Punch over the weekend would be a relief for Abba Kyari who has since been suspended by the Police authority, but has again been caught on camera attempting to bribe officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to release seized cocaine which he has interest.

He is currently being detained at the NDLEA facility for running a drug syndicate in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Brazil.

Kyari was the former Commander
of the Police Intelligence Response Team, a unit that works directly with the Office of the Inspector General of Police.

In a fresh twist, the Attorney-General is exonerating Abba Kyari who was reported to have underhand dealings with an international scammer, Ramon Abass, alias Hushpuppi currently being detained in the United States of America over $1.1 million fraud.

In the United States, where Hushpuppi was interrogated by the US security, he has indicted DCP Kyari while making a confessional statement, a development that made the US FBI to declare Kyari wanted.

The Attorney-General, it was recalled that in January, noted that Kyari was indicted for money laundering by the Special Investigation Panel which probed his alleged links to Hushpuppi, which his extradition was being contemplated.

Malami thereafter insisted that the Police authority should step up investigation of Kyari over alledged proceeds of crime.

Kyari was found in the report that he
moved N44 million into his sibling’s bank account in multiple transactions. This is against Malami’s latest legal advice exonerating the suspended super cop.

In a letter dated February 4, 2022, with reference number, DPPA/LA/814/21, the Minister appeared to have absolved Kyari of any culpability, declaring there was nothing linking the Hushpuppi gang to the officer.

The letter, penned on behalf of the AGF by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, said the evidence contained in the case diary “was not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies (N279mn) were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin.”

The letter addressed to the IG, read in part, “I am directed to inform you that after a careful study of the said response wherein you stated that ‘the monies have been traced to Zenith Bank account no. 2255416115 belonging to Usman Ibrahim Waziri; Guaranty Trust Bank account no. 0130665392 belonging to Adekoya Sikiru; Zenith Bank account no. 2080537566 belonging to Hussein Ala and other funds went to Sharon Festus. The monies were withdrawn and utilised by the aforementioned account holders and the lady.

“It is our view that the above response has not linked the suspect, DCP Abba Kyari, to the offence of money laundering as the evidence contained in the case diary is not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin, more so that the aforementioned recipients or receivers exonerated him in their statements as having nothing to do with the monies.”