Deputy commissioner Abba Kyari is accused of taking bribes from Nigerian Instagram celebrity Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to money laundering in the US.
Mr Kyari has denied the allegations.
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The allegations shocked many Nigerians as he was known as a “super cop” who went after criminals.
In a statement last week, US officials said that celebrity internet fraudster Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi had alleged in an affidavit that he got Mr Kyari to arrest a syndicate member with whom he had fallen out.
Mr Kyari allegedly sent Hushpuppi details of a bank account in which he could deposit payment for the arrest, the statement said.
Before now, Kyari was the people’s superhero. The fearless and daring ‘generalissimo’ of combat policing in Nigeria. The country’s most dogged crime-buster. And the ever-capable and intolerant self-styled detective who has to his imposing credit the busting of billionaire kidnap kingpins, Evans and Wadume, among other numerous heroic exploits.
Court documents filed in California said the 37-year-old Hushpuppi’s crimes cost victims almost $24m (£17m).
He was charged in the US following his extradition from Dubai last year.
Kristi Johnson, acting director of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said Hushpuppi was one of the “most high-profile money launderers in the world”.
His “celebrity status and ability to make connections seeped into legitimate organisations and led to several spin-off schemes in the US and abroad”, she said.
Here are facts you should know about Abba Kyari
Abba Kyari was born on March 17, 1975.
He is a Deputy Commissioner of Police and the leader of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in the Nigerian Police Force Headquarter in Abuja, before his suspension on Saturday.
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
Abba was admitted into Police Academy Wudil, Kano State in 2000.
He graduated as cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and was posted to Adamawa State Police Command for his one-year mandatory attachment in Song Police Division.
He was later deployed as Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) in Numan, Adamawa State and served as Unit Commander 14 PMF Yola.
He moved to Lagos State Police Command as 2 IC and later Officer-In-Charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Prior to his appointment as IGP-IRT, he served at Lagos State Police Command as the Officer-In-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Kyari became famous after successfully apprehending popular kidnapper kingpins Evans and Wadume, amongst others.
Last year, he was petitioned before the Lagos #EndSARS judicial panel by one Afeez Mojeed for allegedly defrauding him of up to N41 million and unlawfully detaining him for 14 days.
He is happily married with children.
