Malami Makes U-Turn, Says No Evidence Of Money Laundering Against Abba Kyari

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has declared that there is no evidence of money laundering against the suspended commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari.

This comes a few weeks after Malami directed the police to probe Kyari for allegedly receiving 33 proceeds of crime, stating that a case of money laundering had been established against the former DCP.

Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who is wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1 million scam carried out by a notorious Internet scammer, Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi, was suspended by the police last July.

Malami had in January stated that Kyari was indicted for money laundering by the Special Investigation Panel which probed his alleged links to Hushpuppi.

The AGF then issued legal advice directing the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to conduct further investigations, noting that a prima facie case of money laundering has been established against the embattled officer.

He also said the force should intensify investigation into 33 crime proceeds received by the ex-IRT commander.

It was reported that police investigations revealed how the international scammers led by Hushpuppi paid N235,120,000 to Kyari’s younger brother.

The police report also said Kyari equally funnelled N44 million into his sibling’s bank account in multiple transactions.

Malami Clears Abba Kyari Of Money Laundering

However, in his latest advice, Malami has shifted position from his January directive that the suspended senior officer should be probed.

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.”

Meanwhile, DCP Abba Kyari is currently detained in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his alleged involvement in international drug trafficking.