Abba Kyari: An anomaly turning into an abnormality- Bala Ibrahim

The last 48 hours have been bizarre in a way, because they arrived with peculiar challenges that have severe and devastating shock to me all over. First was the death of a very dear friend, Hassan Magaji Danbaba, Magajin garin Sakwato, who died in Kaduna on Saturday, 12/02/2022. Next was the terrible press briefing by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, today, declaring the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari wanted.

The two events are all the acts of God, with one resulting from natural causes, beyond any human control or intervention, and one that could not have been prevented by any means. Yes, late Dr. Bala Usman said, death is the inevitable end of everyone. So Magaji’s death was destined to happen when it happened, how it happened and where it happened. And there is nothing we can do about it, but bear the shock.

But the second, which is the declaration of DCP Abba Kyari wanted, is one shock that is edging towards electrocution. And unlike death, this is one event that is avoidable, even if one chooses to be philosophical, I think.

The NDLEA press briefing begins thus, “Gentlemen of the press, there is no better way to start this press briefing than to remind us about the enormity of the drug problem Nigeria has on its hand and the imperative of all well-meaning Nigerians to play a positive role in curbing the illicit drug menace……..Unfortunately, some law enforcement agents who should be partners in the pursuit of the President’s mandate, are at the forefront of breaking the law, as they aid and abet drug trafficking in the country. Today, we are forced to declare one of such law enforcement agents wanted in the person of suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force. With the intelligence at our disposal, the Agency believes strongly that DCP Kyari is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline, and he needs to answer questions that crop up in an ongoing drug case in which he is the principal actor. His failure to cooperate forced the hand of the Agency and that is the reason for this press briefing”.

Although lawyers say everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court, in accordance with the applicable law, there are certain presumptions that come with conviction at the people’s court, even at the point of the accusation. And unfortunately, the case of Abba Kyari may be so judged, especially when viewed from the prism of the synopsis of what transpired, as explained by the NDLEA, which was quick to say it had no intention of washing his dirty linens in the public.

For DCP Abba Kyari to again find himself in this situation, after spending months in suspension by the Police Service Commission, based on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, nothing can stop one from calling him the unheeding.

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The IGP recommended the suspension as a temporary measure, while the police investigates relationship of the accused with famous fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi, who was indicted by an American court, as a conspirator in a $1.1 million fraudulent deal against a Qatari businessman.

Abba Kyari is my friend, and he told me several times that he is innocent, very innocent, he said.

There is a particular proverb that says, Life is no bed of roses, whose ambition is to explain that, in life, it is not all pleasant, because there are some good and bad parts too. Abba kyari has had some good moments, when he was hailed for courageous behaviour or character, especially in the arrests of high profile kidnappers. But today, he has to live with the bad moment. That’s what is called the other side of success.

Shortly after receiving this sad news, a friend sent me a message thus, “Like DSP George Iyamu, Like DCP Abba Kyari”. And my stomach rumbled.

Those familiar with the eighties in Nigeria can not forget George Iyamu, the corrupt Police officer that worked for the notorious criminal Identified as Lawrence Anini. Lawrence Anini and his gang made name for terrorizing Nigerians, to the point that Lawrence was popularly called the Law.

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Anini used to be a professional taxi driver, but he stopped the job and started driving criminals in the city, constantly terrorising the people of the then Bendel State, from the year 1980 to the year 1986 when he was killed. Anini was caught on December 3, 1986, in the company of 6 Women. He was shot on his leg which later made the Doctors to cut off his leg. While in the police station, he revealed the members of his gang, amongst whom was the Police Inspector George Iyamu.

George Iyamu was exposed not only by the revelations of Anini, but also his life style. He was said to have lived a life of affluence and owned several cars and houses. All of which were found to have come as a result of the protection, as well as the guns and ammunitions he was giving to Lawrence Anini.

For a police officer, such an end is absurd. And I pray, Abba Kyari does not go the path of such anomaly, or abnormality. Ameen.

Ibrahim, a media advisor writes from Abuja