[FACT-CHECK] Hushpuppi: Did Zulum, Shettima visit embattled Abba Kyari?

A short video clip purportedly showing the trio of DCP Abba Kyari, bare-footed, greeting current and former governors of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum and Sen. Kassim Shettima has gone viral on Nigerian cyberspace. Some people, including news media, allege that the two high-ranking politicians were at Kyari’s residence for a “solidarity visit” over his travails in recent days.

You may recall that super cop Abba Kyari was suspended by the Nigeria Police Commission over his alleged collaboration with Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, and six others, in a $1.1m international fraud conspiracy.

An unsealed 69-page court document shows that DCP Kyari was under investigation by the FBI for his alleged link to Hushpuppi, who had pleaded guilty to fraud in a United States court in California. Subsequently, the FBI declares Kyari wanted and reportedly requested the Nigerian government for his extradition. However, he denies all charges in a Facebook post.

A Borno State government official confirmed to The Daily Reality that the video is neither new nor recorded at Kyari’s residence. Instead, it was taken at the house of the former governor, Kassim Shettima.

Looking more closely at the news on the television behind the trio, one can see the story about the release of the disgraced actor and comedian Bill Cosby. That happened on June 30, 2021, which means more than a month ago.

Moreover, the framed photo on the floor, beside a standing AC and behind Kyari, has Shettima and Zulum in it.

Conclusion: the video is FAKE as it loses its context. In other words, the video is, content-wise, genuine, but it is from an entirely different event, not the one flying on social media.