The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, has said President Muhammadu Buhari remained the final authority to decide the fate of the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari.
He said the President would be properly briefed after the Police Service Commission (PSC) submits the report and recommendations of the panel which investigated the activities of the embattled police officer, who was declared wanted by the Interpol and asked the Nigerian Police to hand him over for prosecution over links with internet fraud kingpin Hushpuppi.
He also noted that the fate of the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, would be determined by the President.
The minister spoke on Tuesday as a guest on Channels Television’s programme, ‘Politics Today.’
Dingyadi said the Presidency had yet to submit the report of the Justice Salami Panel to his ministry and the police authorities.
He said, “The matter has been investigated, and the man (Magu) is still in the service; he is still at the force headquarters.
“What I know is that the report of the committee has been submitted to Mr President and as far I know, no communication has yet been submitted to the ministry or to the police force on this matter.
“So, we are waiting for the final outcome and the public would be informed as and when the need arises.”
Responding to questions on Kyari, who was indicted for alleged involvement in a $1.1m fraud perpetrated by an Instagram Influencer, Abba Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi, the minister said, “The issue of Abba Kyari is in the public domain. By now, everybody has heard that the police have set up a committee to investigate all these allegations.
“You have also reported that the committee has submitted its report to the IGP and the report and recommendations have also been submitted to the Attorney-General for legal opinion. Thereafter, we will take it to the President for final consideration.
“The matter also has some international connotations. So, we have to do due diligence to ensure that they do the right thing. There has to be some consultations with the ministries of foreign affairs and justice before the right decision is taken. After all these, the matter would be referred to the Police Service Commission for final decision.”
On repentant bandits, Dingyadi noted that the Federal Government had a responsibility to reintegrate them “peacefully and honourably into society.”
