–As Police Service Commission Suspends Two IRT Officers

By Uche Eke

Controversial Deputy Commissioner of Police and suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force, Abba Kyari, has blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) for his many troubles.

Until this latest claim, reports have linked Kyari’s current troubles to alleged mindboggling criminal activities linked to him. 

But, according to Daily Trust, Abba Kyari made the claim against IPOB and ESN when he appeared before a probe panel led by Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) at the Force Headquarters.

This is even as the Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced the suspension of the two police officers working under the suspended Abba Kyari in the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force.

The suspended police officers are Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday Ubua and Assistant Superintendent of Police, James Bawa.

This follows their alleged involvement in a drug deal being investigated by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

In a statement on Thursday by the Commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, their suspension were with effect from Monday.

Also, the Inspector General of Police was requested to suspend Inspector Simon Agrigba and Inspector John Nuhu in accordance with the Powers of Delegation.

Ani said a letter dated February 16 and signed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, and an ex-IGP, Musiliu Smith, had been sent to the IGP to intimate him of the commission’s pronouncement on the matter.

The statement partly read,” The Police Service Commission has suspended Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Sunday Ubua and Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP James Bawa in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 030406. The Commission has approved the suspension of the Officers until the outcome of the investigation into the allegations levelled against them.

The Joseph Egbunike’s panel was set up to probe Abba Kyari’s involvement with internet fraudster, Ramon Abbass, popularly known as Hushpuppi. The panel gave Abba Kyari a soft landing, stripping him of one rank.  The Police Service Commission (PSC) found the probe absurd and ordered the panel to conduct another one.