Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police indicted by American authorities for allegedly being in bed with a notorious fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi, has been recommended for suspension by the Nigerian police chief.

In a letter dated July 31, Usman Alkali Baba’s Inspector-General made the recommendation to the Police Service Commission.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of ongoing internal investigations touching on him,” Nigerian police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement on Sunday morning.

According to Mba, the suspension is designed to provide an enabling climate for an internal probe by a police panel. However, he clarified that Kyari’s suspension does not imply that he has been found guilty.

The four-man panel will look at all of the charges levelled against the police officer, who is also the leader of the powerful Intelligence Response Team, a squad that has played a key role in the arrests of high-profile criminals.

Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to fraud charges, was the one who implicated Kyari.

According to the Department of Justice, the famed Nigerian detective allegedly arranged for the arrest and imprisonment of Hushpuppi’s partner after the two fell out after Hushpuppi defrauded a Qatari of $1.1 million. Hushpuppi claims that the top cop also sent him photographs of Vincent after his arrest as proof.

Kyari allegedly also sent Abbas bank account information for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment, according to the statement from the Department of Justice.

Despite the FBI’s damning evidence, Kyari claimed he was not involved in any  crime. Vincent was arrested and released, he claimed, on the basis of a threat to life allegation. He also claimed that he never received any money from Hushpuppi.

The police panel, led by Joseph Egbunike, the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, is expected to look into “all of the allegations made by the US government against DCP Abba Kyari as contained in relevant documents provided to the NPF by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” according to the NPF.

“The SIP is also to obtain detailed representation of DCP Abba Kyari to all the allegations levelled against him, conduct further investigations as it deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on the matter,” Mba said.