I have always been a good judge of character. At least I thought so, and have been getting it right – until yesterday – that is, when the suspended super-cop, Abba Kyari, was declared wanted by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Agency’s spokesman who addressed the press in Abuja made shocking revelation of Kyari’s alleged involvement in drug deals.
“With the intelligence at our disposal, the Agency strongly believes that DCP Abba Kyari is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline,” said the spokesman.
He went on to give detailed account on how the Agency played along in a sting operation that caught the super-cop red-handed strategising how his men and the NDLEA agents could make millions out of 25 kilograms of confiscated cocaine from some criminals.
By the end of the day (Monday), the police issued a statement that it had arrested DCP Abba Kyari and four other officers for their alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy of tempering with exhibit.
This, I find difficult to understand, especially with all the information at its disposal after the submission of report by a special police investigation team at the instance of the IGP. Why did the police fail to arrest Kyari and the officers involved until when the NDLEA let the cat out of the bag. Was the police trying to shield Kyari and the four officers involved?
Like many Nigerians, I am disappointed that DCP Kyari whom we all thought was a model officer and future IGP that could reform the Nigeria Police, has fooled the country with his super-cop image, when in reality, going by the current revelations of his alleged criminal activities, he was nothing but a fraudster.
When in July last year the FBI linked him to an alleged internet fraudster and money launderer, Ramon Abbas alias Husshpuppi, who is standing trial in America, he strongly defended himself and some of us believed him, knowing very well that criminals are capable and in some cases drag the image of good officers into the mud to get back at them.
But a few weeks ago when I saw a picture he posted on his Facebook page, posing with a Lagos socialite, Obi Cubana, at the wedding ceremony of the IGP’s son, bells begun to ring in my head. Not that Mr Cubana had done something wrong, but law enforcement officers should not be seen to be romancing with socialites or rich people.
I think Abba Kyari was on a suicide mission after his suspension from the force over the FBI allegation. Otherwise, why would he risk everything and get involved with drug traffickers – Greed?
- Iyawa is former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico
