March 13, (THEWILL) – The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has debunked media reports that his office had exonerated the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of any involvement in money laundering.
Kyari, who is wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1 million scam carried out by convicted Internet fraudster, Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi, was suspended by the police last July.
Media reports had on Sunday quoted a new legal advice by the office of the AGF, exonerating Abba Kyari from alleged money laundering.
“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”, the reports had partly read.
However, the AGF, said the media reports on the issue was based on misconception of his position.
Speaking on the development, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in a chat with newsmen said the AGF’s position is that no conclusion has been reached on the investigation of Kyari’s alleged involvement in money laundering.
He described the reports that the AGF had exonerated Kyari regarding money laundering as a “misconception.”
His words: “It is clear that the conclusion on the alleged contradiction was a clear case of misconception.
“The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice’s stance is that no conclusion has been reached in the direction of absence of evidence relating to the first report.
“The issues were raised for further investigation with a view to cover the field in investigation with a view to arrive at informed decision.”
Recall that the US had also issued an extradition request to the Nigerian government regarding Kyari.
The federal government, through Malami, had directed appropriate authorities to take further action on that including filing court processes.
Abba Kyari is also facing eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine, and other drug related offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
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