ABBA KYARI: HOW NOT TO COVER-UP A NATIONAL SHAME. By Zik Gbemre

Disgraced 'Super Cop' Abba Kyari

"The attempt by the Nigerian government, through the nation's police, to disrupt the US trial of indicted "super cop" Abba Kyari over aiding and abetting internation fee fraud aggravates the national shame occasioned by the ongoing trial of Hushpuppi".

"That Nigeria is averse to collaborate with the US Police Department for having to do the job Nigeria Police have deliberately failed to do is an indication that the nation's police authority have something to hide in the Kyari's indictment".

"For me, it's too late to cover-up under any guise. Nigeria must release Kyari to defend himself in the US or the world will continue to look at Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in the world".

The dismissive and hasty tone, by the Nigerian Police Investigation Panel, that Nigeria's so perceived super cop, Abba kyari, committed no crime in US soil, is a national shame that will further dent the image of the Nigeria Police, indeed the entire nation before the international community.

It is no surprise that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba's constituted Special Investigation Panel, SIP, led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike, could not deny that Kyari has questions to answer. 

Chairman of the SIP, DIG Joseph Egbunike, revealed that, "The panel discovered that there was communication between Kyari and Hushpuppi, as well as infractions on the part of the cop, which is against the procedure of engagement of the police", which is mere rationalisation of the US indictment of Kyari. 

By establishing that an officer of the Nigeria Police and indeed, Nigerian government decorated as a symbol of excellence and credibility in a Police Force did have unhealthy communications and dealings with a notorious billionaire fraudster, the report did not shame only Kyari, but also indicted the entire Nigerian police and the Nigerian government, knowing how corrupt we are as a nation. 

It is therefore very disappointing that the Panel and the Police are deliberately, trying to water down a clear indictment by flagging the indefensible excuse that Kyari committed no offense in the US and so, should not be extradited to the US to face trial. 

For me, this is a deliberate intent to cover-up the sins of Kyari and insulate him from trial. This familiar signal is not at all about protecting the indicted cop or the integrity of Nigeria. It is equally about avoiding a situation where Kyari could indict his superiors in the police who may have been on the know and shared of Kyari's spoils of his association with Hushpuppi. 

This was the same script that made it impossible for the Nigerian government to try thieving former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori. Even with over a hundred charges, because of compromise, Nigerian police, anti-graft agencies and the judiciary could not bring Ibori to book, talk much of convicting him for stealing blind, the state he ruled. 

However, speedily without sentiments, a UK court, with a single charge of laundering money he stole from Delta state, convicted and jailed Ibori for years before releasing him to the life of ex-convict he now lives today in Delta. 

It is not the responsibility of the Nigerian Police or Government, to absolve a Police Officer indicted for aiding and abetting an international fraud in return for a share of the loot. 

If Abba kyari was indicted by the US authorities, he should be taken to the US to face charges against him. If the Nigerian Government, through the Inspector-General of Police Panel's report, is owning up to Kyari's misconduct, then the Government should be ashamed that under her nose, a 'super cop' was aiding and abetting a multimillion dollar advanced fee fraud and they were not aware. 

It has taken the US government to detect a crime being coordinated from Nigeria, with the involvement of a hypocritical Nigerian super cop. The honourable thing to do is to release Kyari to face trial like Hushpuppi in the US. Let the suspect prove his defence, himself. 

All the cover-ups and grandstanding by the federal government through the Nigeria Police, will not help Nigeria one bit. It will only aggravate our unenviable global reckoning as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. 

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