The Police Service Commission has reacted to the order by a United States court to the FBI to arrest Nigerian Police Officer, DCP Abba Kyari in connection to a $1.1million fraud carried out by Fraudster, Abbass Ramon aka Hushpuppi.
Kyari was indicted by the US court for allegedly accepting a bribe to arrest one Mr. Vincent Chibuzor, a member of the Hushpuppi’s fraud gang.
However, Kyari has denied the allegation by the US court, citing that he only had a contact with Hushpuppi once and had no monetary transactions with him.
Reacting, the Police Commission on Saturday said It is strange that a US court could order the arrest of a non-citizen a Nigerian citizen resident in Nigeria saying Nigeria is a sovereign nation with its laws and justice systems which should be respected.
The Commissioner in charge of Media on the board of the Police Service Commission, Mr Austin Braimoh said that a formal report must come from the appropriate quarters to the commission before anything is done.
Mr. Braimoh noted that it will work in accordance with the law which established it and empowers it to carry out Disciplinary measures when it is notified officially about the matter.
“A formal report must come to the Commission from somewhere or someone. The PSC has no position on the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari for now. This is because there is no formal report before the Commission on the officer as we speak. All we hearing on this matter is from the media.
“We also heard that a United States Court either indicted or ordered his arrest. It sounds strange that a US court could order the arrest of a non-citizen, a Nigerian citizen resident in Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereign nation with its laws and justice systems. We surely must be guided by our own attorney general.
“We have to be guided by our own justice systems and courts as well as internal investigations processes. We are not aware of any petition against the officer (DCP Abba Kyari) before the Police Service Commission.
“If the IGP has one, we believe that he will do justice to it and forward it to us for necessary action at the appropriate stage”.
A PSC source told Vanguard that the commission would carry out independent investigations irrespective of findings of the Police authorities on the bribe allegation against Kyari.
“Even though the IGP as the operational authority has the right to investigate any allegations against any of his officers, the final decision on punishment or discipline rests with the Police Service Commission.
“In this regard, the commission which has its own mechanisms for investigation would conduct its own probe concerning the alleged indictment before any final decision can be taken on the future of the officer.
“Yes, it is true that we will wait for the full report of the investigation and it will be treated officially by the commission in accordance with the law. The law has specific punishment for such offences if proven and they include dismissal, demotion, reduction in rank and suspension, as the case may be.