The now suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police [DCP] Abba Kyari’s indictment by the American Federal Bureau of Investigations [FBI] for alleged collusion with suspected Nigerian internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as “Hushpuppi,” has aroused deep and many-sided interest in this country.
Considering his well-earned reputation as a super cop whose successful exploits against criminal elements, insurgent and secessionist groups in the country is legendary, Nigerians were aghast that DCP Abba Kyari, who headed the Police Inspector General’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), would hob-nob with the same characters he is charged to go after.
Beyond the questions that have once again risen on the conduct of law enforcement officers in the country in the course of their official duties, the request by a US Federal Court for DCP Kyari to come and answer charges based on the FBI investigations have also thrown up questions on the security and diplomatic implications of the case to the country.
That fact that DCP Kyari’s alleged involvement in this case only came to light following investigations by a foreign agency did no credit to our own country’s investigative agencies and their diligence and attention to detail. Both “Hushpuppi” and Kyari being Nigerians, our authorities should have led the investigations into the case before it fell into foreign hands, even though “Hushpuppi” largely operated from abroad and is alleged to have mostly scammed foreigners.
It is interesting that Nigeria Police authorities acted on the Abba Kyari issue only when the FBI made its findings public. All the while that “Hushpuppi” was in FBI custody, our Police authorities did not see the need to launch their own investigations into his case and make their own findings. This is a serious lapse. We must use the opportunity to do a root and branch review of investigative procedures on cases previously handled by Kyari and the team he headed so as to dispel doubts by the Nigerian public. This is necessary because of the huge local and international interest riding on the case which imposes on our Police and security agencies the responsibility to diligently handle the issue.
All said, DCP Abba Kyari should not be handed over to the American authorities. For one, any offences he might have committed were committed on Nigerian soil and could be tried in our own courts and under our own laws. There are also the implications of allowing such a high profile security and law enforcement officer to fall into foreign hands. That will set a dangerous precedent for the future.
