IGP appoints Tunji Disu to replace DCP Abba Kyari as head of police intelligence team

Usman Alkali Baba, inspector-general of police (IGP), has named Tunji Disu as head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) — a unit once led by Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP).

The Police Service Commission (PSC) had suspended Kyari on the recommendation of the IGP over his alleged relationship with Ramon Abbas, self-confessed international fraudster better known as Hushpuppi.

Hushpuppi had alleged that he bribed Kyari to arrest and jail “one of his rivals in Nigeria after a dispute over a $1.1 million scam on Qatari business people”.

But Kyari denied any wrongdoing, saying he never collected money from Hushpuppi.

In a statement on Monday, Frank Mba, police spokesman, said the appointment of Disu “is on the heels of management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the unit for better service delivery”.

Mba quoted the IGP as saying the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has today, 2nd August, 2021 approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT),” he said.

“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.”