By Abayomi Olorun-Esan
I had earlier chosen not to comment on the odoriferous gaga, Kum gaga – apology to Chief (Honourable) Patrick Obahiagbon, thrown up by the weak and annoying alibi concocted by the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, in his defence of a weighty allegation of complicity in serial fraud thrown up against him by Abbas Ramon, Alias Hushpuppi, who is jail bound in the United States of America, USA, over age-long fraud.
Honestly, Kyari must have thought that Nigerians are fools who reason like him. As if he must insult the collective sensibility of Nigerians, in a message to his friends on his Facebook page (Abba Kyari) tried to ride roughshod on emotions as he described some Nigerians as appreciating his service as if he is not being paid and highly favoured at the detriment of his contemporaries to render “our service.”
Mr Kyari has so much to explain to the Nigeria Police Force and to the world. He suffers severe reputational injuries from his unholy fraternity and frolicking with a questionable character like Hushpuppi and his co-confederate.
Reading through his wishy-washy defence, one will deduce that Kyari is more culpable than the culprits themselves and it gives him out as hobnobbing with criminals even as a supposed custodian of the law. In a purported message to his friends on his Facebook page, he stated thus:
“Friends: Abbas Hushpuppy who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2 years ago that somebody in Nigeria Seriously threatened to kill his Family here in Nigeria and he sent the person’s Phone number and pleaded we take action before the Person attacks his family.
“We traced and arrested the Suspect and after investigations, we discovered there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life and they are longtime friends who have money issues between them hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.
“Nobody demanded a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.
“Later, he saw some of my Native Clothes and Caps on my social media page and he said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent about N300k directly to the person’s account. The Native Clothes and Caps (5 sets) were brought to our office and He sent somebody to Collect them in our office.
“Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on the threat to his family and released the Suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the Suspect. This is the true story. Vincent is alive, he can be contacted.
“For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious Big Money, They will be disappointed once again as our hands are clean and our record of Service for 2 decades is open for everybody to see. They will continue seeing us serving our fatherland and we will continue responding to ALL distress Calls from ALL Nigerians provided they are life-threatening.
“For Good Nigerians who appreciate our Service please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false Narratives without any Evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors.
Thank you all and GOD bless Nigeria.” Kyari’s statement reads.
Lori iro…
Expectedly, Kyari didn’t tell Nigerians when he became a contractor for native wears for Abbas Hushpuppi in his alibi. In his statement voluntarily given to Nigerians, Kyari was mute when his office became a depot for native wear for criminals.
How many Nigerians have such a relationship with Kyari to the extent of sending clothes through his office to an established and globally acknowledged conman?
Kyari’s defence raises more questions than answers. He should be thoroughly investigated by the authorities and handed over to the Federal Investigation Bureau, FBI for in-depth grilling and possible punishment.
Kyari’s watery statement reminds me of a friend who was gruesomely murdered by his abductors at Okada Town in Edo State, precisely in May 2020.
In a text message to Abba Kyari, by my friend who is a senior journalist; he had raised alarm over the fate of the man pleading with the leader of the IRT to urgently intervene to save a life.
Kyari did not only ignore the messages but even refused to show empathy when a friend after few days informed Kyari in another message of the death of the man who he denied attention when he needed it most in the hands of his abductors.
Kyari didn’t respond to that distress call or show empathy after Egbe Ediagbonya, was killed but same Kyari did not only respond to Abbas Hushpuppi’s call at about the same year but sew clothes for him. Could that be nepotism?
The distress message to Kyari precisely on May 22, 2020 reads:
“Egbe Ediagbonya a.k.a Oga, was kidnapped weeks ago. The kidnappers sent a message through his phone: 0803 370 8868 for Ransome and it was paid but the amount paid seems not enough for his abductors hence he remains their captive.
“..After payment of ransom, his abductors sent a message that they have killed him directing his family were to carry his corpse from. They didn’t see the body at the place. Curiously, he was kidnapped from his Okada, Edo State home, but ransom was paid at Patani, Delta State through a lady suspected to be involved.
“…the two lines on his phone as at the time of his kidnap were: 08118455810; 0803 370 8868. Kindly unravel this misery. The kidnappers are still with the phone. Thanks a million.
The possers are: does Kyari engage in selective response to distress calls? What are his criteria for rapid response to distress calls other than a life-threatening alarm?
Incidentally, from Kyari’s baseless statement, he found the allegation against Vincent to be false yet, he went ahead to sew clothes for the man who gave false information causing the police to take wrong action…a punishable offence.
Given the above, in the court of public opinion and the eyes of the law, there’s proof of prima facie evidence strong enough to nail Kyari and all that is involved in the case of fraud against Abbas Hushpuppi.
Kyari has denigrated his office and should be thoroughly investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, the Police Service Commission, PSC and appropriate punishment meted out to him including surrendering him to authorities in the US for unfettered investigation.
The late Ediagbonya may just be one victim out of many of the casualties of Kyari’s selective policing, perhaps, he was more interested in the highest bidder. Many Nigerians suffer the fate of Ediagbonya because Kyari wasn’t alone in this particular case of dereliction of duty which culminated in the unfortunate death of the Edo farmer. The then Commissioner of Police Edo State Command was also adequately informed ditto the immediate past IGP under whose watch the #Endsars insurrectionists killed and maimed the men of the Nigeria Police. To Kyari, it is justice for the highest bidder as the Borno-born overrated cop may have made it to be, except proven otherwise.
As Police high command has chosen to prod into Kyari’s activities as it concerns his alleged involvement in fraud owing to his patronage of an established crooks, thorough investigation must be carried out because it all bothers on our national integrity.
As it is today, Kyari should be immediately relieved of his duties until he comes out clean if possible but, shouldn’t be allowed to man that office again.
Nigeria has so many intelligent police officers who can do much better than Kyari in the field of investigative policing if well equipped like the leader of IRT who suffers terrible damage to his integrity at the moment. The Nigeria Police Force should try other super-intelligent officers and get the best out of them.
Kyari has shown enough penchant for hobnobbing with moneybags clean or not, as we saw him at Oba, Anambra State, a fortnight ago in midst of Nigerians who tormented the psyche of other Nigerians in their show of affluence. What if one of the rich men at the event is indicted in future and the case is reported to Kyari’s office, how does he clinically carry out his duties without being enmeshed in the dirt?
Kyari should tell his ‘friends’ all he knows about Abbas Hushpuppi.
Abayomi Olorun-Esan, a Media Consultant writes from Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
