I asked for further probe, not exonerate Abba Kyari — Malami

Abubakar Malami

Attorney-general of the federation Abubakar Malami on Sunday clarified assumptions that he had exonerated deputy police commissioner Abba Kyari who is under investigation for fraud among other allegations.

A statement issued by his spokesman Umar Gwandu said there appeared to be a “misunderstanding regarding the issue.”

The statement followed dust raised by a new legal advice issued by Malami where he said there was not enough evidence to show that Kyari laundered money.

Kyari is wanted in the US for alleged involvement in a $1.1 million scam carried out by convicted fraudster Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi.

He is also facing eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine, and other related offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Malami, who is also minister of justice, had said in a legal advice in January that investigations carried out by the police indicted the former IRT commander for money laundering.

Addressing the misconceptions, the statement on Sunday said, “It was a case of work in progress in respect of which the office of the Attorney General of the Federation requested for further probe in relation to some aspects of investigation.

“It was clear that the conclusion on the alleged contradiction on the issue 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 in order to arrive at an informed decision.”