Abba Kyari replaced as IGP appoints DCP Tunji Disu Head, Police Intelligence Response Team
· Assures the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its professional mandate
Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been replaced as the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a crack special squad of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The United States of America (USA)’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are demanding that Kyari be handed over to them following his indictment by a US court in relation to the activities of international internet fraudster, better known as Hushpuppi.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, set a Special Investigation Panel (SIP), to probe the allegations against Kyari and following the recommendations of the Panel, had recommended to the Police Service Commission (PSC) the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations touching on him. The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
IGP Baba has, however, gone ahead to, Monday, August 2, 2021, approve the replacement of Kyari with the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The posting of the officer, according to a statement by CP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Office, Force Headquarters Abuja, “is on the heels of Management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the Unit for better service delivery.
“The IGP has charged the new Head of the IRT to demonstrate his professional competence in his leadership of the Unit. He also assured citizens that the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices.
“Prior to his appointment as the new Head of the IRT, DCP Tunji Disu, a former Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos State, was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. He had also previously served at the State CID, Rivers State as the Deputy Head of the Unit. He was also a former Commander of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the African Union (AU) Peace Keeping Mission in Dafur, Sudan.
DCP Disu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Lagos State University (LASU) and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State. He has also attended several professional courses both at home and abroad: Small Arms Smuggling Training in Botswana, Internet Fraud Training at the Cambridge University, UK, Strategic Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, Forensic Investigations and Criminal Intelligence Course at the University of Lagos, amongst others. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations and Chattered Institute of Personnel management, amongst other professional bodies.
His posting, Mba said, is with immediate effect.
