Still On Abba Kyari The Super Cop And His Antics -By Okey Tony Uzoma

I am one of those who in the past have shown sympathy for the embattled DCP Abba Kyari, the super cop and have used different media platforms to advocate not just for his release from detention but his re-instatement to his office because of his fabled accomplishments as a crime buster. This was because I felt the nation still needs him to fight crime. But given the weight of evidence against him and his antics, I am forced to reconsider my position.

Abba Kyari and his sympathizers and media hirelings are selling the narrative that he is being persecuted by his colleagues who are jealous of his achievements being the most decorated officer in the Nigerian police force. Some also alleged that the criminal elements in the country are the ones working in the background to ensure that he is pushed out of the way. But all that is neither here nor there.

Abba Kyari is not a political case neither is he a prisoner of conscience. He is being held for a crime that he allegedly committed while in service. His case is a complicated one ranging from conspiracy, theft, money laundry, and illegal declaration of asset, abuse of office, seizure and conversion of assets to drug trafficking. Added to these are so many suppressed cases of intimidation and extortion complained by his victims who have cried out for justice. And to these group, Abba Kyari’s travails are attributed to nemesis.

But, Mr. Kyari wants all to believe that he is innocent, using different means to delay his trial. One Emeka Julius who wrote from Amsterdam on SayNaija.com on 27th January, the day Abba was supposed to appear in court wrote with so much emotion but little facts. In what he termed unlawful and illegal detention of Abba Kyari, he presented Abba Kyari as a victim of unjust system that punishes the just. I agree with Mr. Emeka that prosecution without fair trial or even fair hearing amounts to injustice. But he has not bothered to find out why there are glitches in the trial process. I agree with him also that Kyari is an intelligent officer who has recorded great achievement in the course of his career but that also is not enough to absolve him of criminal prosecution or a license to use his office for personal gain. Again, Mr. Emeka Julius was of the opinion that the continued detention of Abba Kyari is an act of ingratitude from Nigerians and would not encourage young officers to be dedicated to duty. Here again, he is wrong. If Kyari is guilty and is allowed to go scot free that will give wrong signal to young officers and would make them act with impunity. Prosecuting offenders will act as deterrent to others not to indulge in criminal activities. Nobody is above the law.

He also opined that he was framed. And let us assume that he is a victim of set-up as some others of his many media hirelings want us to believe. The pertinent question is why was it possible for him to fall? If indeed he failed because he was set up, it means that Mr. Abba Kyari is not a disciplined officer. Those who are disciplined and conscientious hardly fall to temptations. It also means that he is careless and negligent. Thirdly, it means that he has integrity issues. He is greedy and that was why he fell for trap to enrich himself.

Clearly, the implication of not owning to the crime one committed means insincerity and lack of remorse. It means that such a person cannot be trusted because if he is restored, he may still go back to the same crime that he is accused of. In my opinion, I would ask Abba Kyari to own up and apologize to the nation. That singular sincere gesture can earn him state pardon.

Okey Tony Uzoma

A researcher, public affairs commentator and a media Consultant