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By Muhammad El-Bonga Ibraheem 

The damning and weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari, who many consider a cult hero within the Nigerian security system, is confoundingly infelicitous. The FBI indicted the fine police officer for being in cahoot with the internationally recognised fraudster known as Hushpuppi, who has been in US custody since July 2020 for multiple crimes perpetrated in and outside America. 

DCP Abba Kyari is an officer I so much respect. In fact, in him, I see a bright future for the police force given his expertise and tenacity in arraigning criminals and finding a way out where there is seemingly none. This development, however, evidently leaves me very sad that the person we hold in high regard isn’t what we really think he is, at least from what he portrays to the public and from what the FBI concludes from their thorough investigations. 

Over the years, the Deputy Commissioner of Police has attracted quite a myriad of attention that transcends across the nooks and crannies of the country. There is this general belief that whenever the police want to fish out criminals or swiftly achieve some desired results, Abba Kyari, nicknamed “Jack Bauer”, is the man for the job. He led many successful operations that culminated in the arrest of some criminals at the top of the Nigerian kidnapping echelon, notably Evans, the billionaire kidnapper. That singular arrest catapulted his reputation and made him a cult hero amongst the ranks and files of the police force and within the psyche of the Nigerian masses, who are usually downtrodden. Not very long ago, his men hunted the killers of the late APC chieftain Ahmed Gulak who was iniquitously murdered by IPOB terrorists masquerading as “unknown gunmen” in Imo State. 

Despite his unrivalled excellence as a super cop, nonetheless, that doesn’t mean Abba Kyari isn’t infallible. The FBI said Abba Kyari received orders from Hushpuppi to arrest and detain a criminal “colleague” after their falling out having scammed a Qatari national of more than $1m. The report added that Abba Kyari allegedly supplied an account of which a “thank you” message, which the FBI alludes could be from the proceeds of the crime, was sent to him by Hushpuppi.

At this juncture, no matter how much you want to twist the issue, Kyari shot himself on foot by cavorting with people of dodgy characters. The fact that an internationally known criminal in the mould of Hushpuppi— with criminal networks spanning from Nigeria to America, Britain, Korea etc.— can make one call to a police officer to have someone arrested for scuppering a “job” is indeed shocking and also speaks volumes about the influence he exerts in the force. The duo chatted many times where Kyari was egregiously revealed to have received direct orders from Hushpuppi regarding how the police should treat the arrested person. DCP Abba Kyari’s relationship with Hushpuppi also involved buying clothes for the fraudster to the extent that the latter would come and get them from the former’s office. While a police officer remains everyone’s friend, Kyari’s frolicking with Hushpuppi is too difficult to be whitewashed unless the investigations are finalised to determine his innocence if indeed he is. 

Although Abba Kyari had already responded to the weighty allegation, his explanations don’t hold any water, for he needs to prove to everyone keenly fixated on the issue, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he’s indeed not guilty. Much to his chagrin, Kyari edited the Facebook post conveying his initial response many times and subsequently deleted it. The various chats where Hushpuppi ordered Kyari and his men to arrest his so-called colleague and be dealt with like an armed robber without any form of investigation is an indication that they could have been frolicking for a long time. The “arrest” of Hushpuppi’s colleague for weeks is a preemptive move to prevent him from scuppering an ongoing “job” of scamming a Qatari national where the fraud money was later laundered in the US. This is where the FBI fingered Kyari as a possible co-conspirator in the whole issue. 

 The FBI is reputedly known for being painstakingly meticulous regarding their investigations. If they’re really on your case, nothing is usually left untouched, for they do back up their reports with undeniable, substantiated facts and documents. I have read an analysis from a lawyer friend who argued that the US has no jurisdiction to request Kyari’s extradition to be questioned in the US since he committed the alleged crime in Nigeria. The US— and by extension, the developed nations— always fear that justice may not be served, knowing full well how our system here in Nigeria operates. Is it not in this same Nigeria that James Ibori got cleared of any wrongdoing by Nigerian courts, having committed one of the greatest corruption in our history? But later on, James Ibori finally met his waterloo when he was arrested in the UK and forced to serve many years in a UK prison. 

Some of our northern people have started defending Kyari, painting the whole thing an ethnic colouration. I read a post where someone said the Igbos support Kanu and his proscribed IPOB group at all costs; the Yorubas support Igboho against all odds; therefore, he asks: why shouldn’t we, as northerners support our own? You see, this habit of shielding glaring depravities is one of the reasons why Nigeria continues to lag in all facets of development; it is also the reason why we continue to grope for exemplary leadership to lead us to the promised land within our fold. What is wrong should be dismissed by all and sundry regardless of religious and ethnic ties. Besides, the duo of Igboho and Kanu have openly declared their rebellion against the Nigerian nation. As for Abba Kyari, he is a civil servant in our most crucial agency whose responsibility is to serve and protect the interest of all Nigerians regardless of their ethnic disposition or religious affiliation, which explains why his issue is huge. Unfortunately, he got himself soiled in a huge mess that has the propensity to obliterate all his outstanding brilliance records.

The police suspension of the super cop to pave a berth for an investigation into the matter is a commendable move. Whatever sprouts out of from the investigation, Kyari should blame himself for it’s the offshoot of his actions, having chosen to dine and wine with criminals. When you rise to fame through something magnificent, you shouldn’t do anything to bring it down, for posterity will always forget your good days but will loudly judge and label you with your few bad instances. Sadly, such is the case of Kyari today. 

Muhammad El-Bonga Ibrahim writes from Abuja. He can be reached via bonga2004@icloud.com.

By Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi

Tension grew as Prof. Ibrahim Maqari intends to sue Dr Abdalla Usman Gadon-Kaya based on what he (or his lawyers) called defamation of his character. It may be recalled that the main point of divergence between the two was their different religious affiliations, where Prof. Maqari subscribes to Tijjaniya Sufism, and Dr Abdalla is an Izala/Sunni scholar who preaches mostly against the teachings of Prof. Maqari and Tijjaniyya order in general.

Initially, the blasphemous and heretic teachings of Abduljabbar Kabara were the genesis of their misunderstanding, where Dr Abdallah erroneously cited a wrong reference when referring to an Abuja Imam. It was clear that the coalition of Kano Ulama, under the chairmanship of Dr Sa’idu Dukawa, lodged their complaint against what they found to be lies and concoctions against Bukhari, Muslim, some Sahabas, which in turn, ridicule and subject the sanctity of the Prophet’s household into questioning. These immoral teachings have negatively impacted some irate and ignorant youth, where they mockingly copy and paste anything from the sacred books and ridiculously call it a lie.

In response to this unprecedented religious turmoil, the scholars in Kano unanimously agreed to form a coalition to defend Islam’s sanctity. Abduljabbar directly targets Dr Abdalla and other prominent Sunni scholars in Kano as his reference point and as one of those at the forefront of exposing his evil antics. These altercations have taken a long time without Prof. Maqari featuring in the scene with either support or opposition to what Kano Ulamas have been doing.

After the debate session, the Muslims were happy as Abduljabbar failed to defend his heretical teachings. However, while everyone was happy and waiting for a verdict from the government, suddenly Prof. Maqari used his position from the Abuja Central Mosque and said that he perceived a form of propaganda in all that has been happening in Kano concerning Abduljabbar’s case. Thus, Prof. Maqari breathed life to all the supporters of Abdujabbar who died and buried their heads in shame.

Maqari’s submission made Dr Abdalla go berserk and even erroneously, out of emotions, mentioned many instances where an Imam in Abuja, which may be Prof. Maqari, used his position to delve into this – what no Imam in the history of Abuja Mosque ever delved into before. He cited instances where such an Imam said many things and even went to the extent of claiming to own classified audios of phone calls where that Imam, who may be Prof. Maqari, wanted to intervene in cases related to blasphemy.

In response, Prof. Maqari, in what shows his humility and humbleness, as usual, posted a video where he debunked all that Dr Abdalla said and called for peace. Later, Dr Abdalla also posted another video, clearly apologizing and calling for peace. Most poor innocent followers of these famous sheikhs were happy that the matter was settled amicably, only to wake up with another fresh video of Prof. Maqari saying he would go to court. I think this will be one of the first court cases that will generate high tension, cause a lot of damage, and divert people’s attention from the real cause of the trouble. It will indeed cause more harm than expected.

The decision may not ordinarily be  Prof Maqari’s. It may be that some people who are angry with Dr Abdallah may feel that this is the right time for them to score their cheap religious point by dragging Prof. Maqari and Dr Abdalla into the ring. How I wish it were done differently. How I wish it were not for Prof. Maqari and Dr Abdalla. Whoever knows Prof. Maqari knows a humble, soft-spoken, modest and religious personality. The way he doffs his Dara on his head can make everyone think of the kindest people of Magrib who devote their lives to the services of Islam.

On the one hand, Prof. Maqari is a Professor of the Arabic language, an Islamic scholar who triples as an Imam in the national mosque in Nigeria. He maintains a very cordial relationship with many people to whom he subscribes to their ways of religiosity and those he differs with. However, Prof. Maqari is tactically but unmistakably anti-Izali with a complete Tijjaniya Sufi disposition. These, he has never hidden and is found in many of his teachings. There are so many instances where he displayed anti-Izala inferences in his teachings, and this is not in any way bad as much as he is sure of his contrary opinions. Such disagreements and oppositions have been there among scholars since an immemorial time.

On the other hand, Dr Abdalla Gadon Qaya is a vocal, vibrant and versatile Islamic scholar who is also an Imam in an Izala mosque; he also triples as a lecturer of Islamic Studies at Bayero University, Kano. He has been known to talk during his Friday sermons fiercely against anybody who blasphemes, jokes, maligns or tries to tarnish the image of Islam. In addition, he has been known as a social media influencer, where he uses his position to viciously flatten his rude opponents, most of whom are not well-versed in Islamic studies, but trying to change the religious narratives, in the name of modernity or what they call modern Islam.

Looking at the delicate situation we are in now, I, therefore, call on these two gladiators in the ring to not allow their followers to use them to divide the Ummah further. We have many problems ahead of us, and that of Abduljabbar is not yet settled. Against whom are we to set our faces now? This may lead to another sectarian violence.

To me, both are good people. They are religious scholars; they are role models in their own rights. They are not infallible. Both have erred. Prof. Maqari emotionally chose the wrong time for his submission, while Dr Abdallah emotionally said something which Prof. Maqari didn’t say. All these are not supposed to come from Islamic scholars. Don’t allow those you call ‘YanBoko to play with your intelligence.

Your respected position will be trampled upon if you allow that. Both of you have lawyers who can give the last drop of their blood in protecting each of you; let these lawyers go and defend the sanctity of the Prophet. What will you gain if you see another person’s downfall just because you feel he wrongs you or he belongs to a different sect? What if the table turns? It isn’t socio-morally a welcome development for Islamic scholars to go to court. And who even initiated the idea of going to court? Who wants to use these reputable Malamai as his case study?

Finally, I am not in any way against going to court to look for justice. On the contrary, I support it. But, I won’t support scholars who are the mirrors to the Ummah to do that. What if one of your disciples learns from you that taking matters to court is the last good thing? Whether we like it or not, this will have sectarian colouration, and it will sow more rift than ever. Therefore, I kindly advise Malam Maqari to stop the court procession for good silently. I also kindly remind Malam Abdalla, Prof Maqari and all other Islamic scholars to guard and weigh their utterances and actions before uttering or doing anything.

Both clerics should silently sit, own the issue, discuss it and shame the detractors. Both Prof. Maqari and Malam Abdalla emotionally erred, and they apologised. That should have been enough reason to close the case. Why turning around and going to court? Otherwise, this will lead to digging more and more resolved issues by those rude supporters who don’t have much love for the religion, and it will lead to further disunity. Don’t we have other vital problems to deal with, please? And if both parties are doing it for the sake of Allah, then why court? Only the evil FOLLOWERS may propel their teachers to court cases just for them to laugh and continue to enjoy their ignorance.

Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi, PhD., is a lecturer at the Department of Nigerian Languages, Bayero University, Kano. He can be contacted via +234 80 65846225.

By Muhammad Sabiu

No fewer than 17 people have been killed and 85 buildings torched in the recent violence that erupted in two local government areas of Plateau State: Bassa and Riyom.

After an emergency security meeting, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, confirmed this to journalists at Government House, Jos.

“There were attacks specifically at Jebbu Miango on Saturday night, July 31, in which five people were killed and about 85 buildings burnt.

“The next morning, the attacks continued at Tambora in Riyom LGA where 12 people were killed and some houses destroyed,” Mr Egbuka said.

He also stated that some security personnel were killed in the violence, adding that Governor Lalong has ordered security agents to ensure normalcy in the affected areas and make sure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

He said, “His Excellency (the governor) has read a riot act to us that we should move out and within two weeks bring to book all those that have perpetrated the attacks. This would be done.”

This didn’t come as a surprise since Plateau State is known for ethno-religious violence in the past.

By Abdurrahman Nasir Salis

The emergence of Abduljabbar Kabara is a blessing and not entirely a curse to the Muslim Ummah from this part of the world. Abduljabbar is a common enemy to variegated clans of foes, to wit Izala, Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Salafiyya, among other sects, who could neither share a shade to rest, mosque to preach and pray nor a home to shelter.

The aftereffect of fighting the common enemy has taught all the clans that the commonalities they share as Muslims far outweigh the differences. It taught all the sects that they have for long overtired themselves on trivialities that are neither a passport to paradise nor a ticket to hell.

Yesterday, I saw three or four different sects I mentioned hereinbefore, who, to an extent and often attribute infidelity or disbelief to each other gathered amicably in a mosque in Kano belonging to one sect (Tijjaniyya), preaching together and praying together. I saw their guards, “Yan Agaji“, working side by side in complete harmony and feeling of togetherness, considering themselves brother’s keeper.

From the onset, seeing Izala guards together with Qadiriyya’s and Tijjaniyya’s “Yan Agaji” at the doors of Tijjaniyya Mosque named SHEIKH IBRAHIM INYASS MOSQUE bewilderedly caught my eyes and attention. Despite the saying that curiosity kills the cat, I entered the mosque with no fear of being killed as the cat. I saw scholars of all the sects on a single table and a crowd of onlookers, the loud cheerers, from all the sects, listening to their Sheikhs filled with feelings of togetherness and inclusivity, and above all, seeing each other as Muslim with Islam at the top of the priority scale and pushing all other considerations to the bottom of the scale.

Life is indeed the best teacher. This happening is not just an ordinary incident that will pass by time. Muslims and their Sheikhs should take this as a lesson that should symbolise how we should behave like Muslims. Unity shall be our sigil. Let me conclude by the saying of the Almighty Allah in the Holy Qur’an Chapter 8 Verse 73: “The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless you do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief”.

Abdurrahman Nasir Salis writes from Kano.

abdurrahman00800@gmail.com

+234 806 578 7324

By Salisu Uba Kofar Wambai

One of the basic tenets of democratic principles is building political parties on sound ideological ground. Ideology is an orientation that characterised the thinking of a group or nation. Thus, the people of the same thoughts on running public affairs come together to establish a party, preaching the gospel of a particular ideology to ascertain its primary objective in government or public sphere if they’re voted through an electoral process.

However, the missteps and embarrassing blunder committed by the Nigerian politicians in the party formation in 1998-1999 democratic process was enormous, and the country is paying the huge price now. The politicians then were overwhelmed with the military government’s commitment to hand over power to the civilians. Unfortunately, they hurriedly built the parties; thereby, the ideological consideration of the politicians was grossly undermined. The parties were just a kind of machine to let the military go.

The people democratic party (PDP) encompassed and encapsulated politicians of different ideologies by looking at their political background, which is the machine that shapes and moulds their thoughts and ideological thinking style. How can one explain forming a party with unrepentant progressives like Abubakar Rimi, Solomon Lar and topnotch conservatives like Lawal Kaita and Alex Ekueme in the same party! They had different ideological backgrounds by all calculations. They were purely strange bedfellows.

The other two most notable parties then were APP and AD. APP were just people who lost grips of power with the death of General Sani Abacha with revivalism agenda, and AD was nothing more than ethnic and regional irredentists. Therefore, the parties were all ideological-free. Their main aim was only to let the military go and let the civilians take over.

The PDP experienced intense intraparty wrangling and turmoil because the party’s bigwigs were not ideologically the same. And this led to much chaos and internal divides among them, which led to a new crop of politicians as governors hijacking the party and get rid of them politically with the backup of the presidency. It was the beginning of governor-turn-emperor as we see it today.

Retrospectively, in the First and Second Republics, the politicians had based-ideology. For example, it was NEPU that produced Malam Aminu Kano, who had been a minister and yet died with only 112 Naira in his bank account because the ideology of his party was to emancipate the masses from the subjugation of elites and traditional oligarchs who formed their NPC as a party with their aim of maintaining the status quo. And in the Second Republic still, the parties were ideological because PRP was an offshoot of NEPU, and NPN was NPC. That’s why the politics then was not much of the money-bags type. The political parties’ members were committed to bringing change according to their ideological bearings.

The politics of ideology produced the likes of former governor Balarabe Musa, who died with only his old tractor as a farmer. It produced people like Abubakar Rimi, who had to secure a bank loan as a governor before he built his house and left the government house with only 50 thousand Naira in his possession. It produced Aminu Kano, who had not even had a paltry freezer in his room, rather a traditional (randa) muddy-pot.

We had equally seen the lifestyle of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and the late Northern Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna. It was all politics of ideology that made them. They all left this world owning only a local house in their towns when they could accumulate a lot had wished so.

Today’s ideology of our politicians is nothing more than gripping onto power, begin to run the governments like their personal companies, enrich themselves at the expense of the masses, building mansions, accumulating senseless wealth through looting and embezzlement, creating laws that only serve their interest, flaunting their newfound wealth and leaving their subjects dying in poverty and diseases.

Nevertheless, you can hardly find a politician who represents his people in the National Assembly, not a billionaire or close to billionaire status today. You can only see the effects of all these borrowings with them, leaving the electorate with no security and with nothing called social amenities.

It is up to our youth to form or join the ideological political trains, form parties of explicit ideologies, and bring positive changes if they want their names to be written with gold and remembered as heroes like Aminu Kano.

Salisu Uba Kofar Wambai writes from Kano State and can be reached via salisunews@gmail.com.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

Religion is one single thing Nigerians of whatever dispensations take in high esteem. Religion is often viewed as the opium of the subjugation of the masses or as their Achilles’ heel. To Rahama, the story is different; religion means nothing to her. It is simply an identifier that she’s a Muslim lady. One might think having grown up in a multi-religious house would intuitively teach her to have respect of some sort for religion, wrong. Her Imams and pastors do not use Qur’an or Bible.

A 28-year-old, stout Rahama Tsoho belongs to a disreputable family of three. Her father, an ex-serviceman, divorced their mother when she was only two. She stays with the father, and her sister with the mother. She had longed to marry since her teenage, but she couldn’t. She always attributes this to her look and family. So, she vows to live a better life in the future by hook or crook and begins to use highly effective and expensive bleaching creams to brighten her skin. She also hunts for a suitor via dubious ways such as flaunting her bosoms and derrière at the workplace and visiting the so-called Malamai, fortune-tellers and sorcerers.

After long and tedious trials and retrials, she meets a fine young man in their office, a newly transferred staff from another state. Without a doubt, she knows he’s beyond her league, but she believes it’s worth a try. But, as feared, the fine-looking new staff turned down her offer right away.

“I swear I will marry that guy by all means”, she declares. Soon after that, she starts consulting her fixers for the aid of whatever nature. “All I want”, she confesses to one of them, a mighty sorcerer who lives atop a high mountain, “is to marry him”.

“That’s easy for us as drinking water”, he assured her. “There are, however, rules, as you well know”.

“I am more than ready to abide by them. All of them, provided my wish will be granted”.

For a start, she’s instructed to visit their family house, which is far away, which is uncommon in the culture of that locality. She unhesitatingly goes. She introduces herself as his colleague. Simple. She, throughout her stay, behaves the most innocent girl-type and spreads greetings to his stepmother and siblings and everyone who cares to respond.

“Oga Rabiu has been very helpful”, she warily announces. “I, therefore, felt duty-bound to visit his family as I am here for another reason, actually a relative’s wedding”.

In the evening of the same day, I saw Rabiu looking bothered and lonely. I was about to ask him what was up when he told me about Rahama. He said she was a magic-savvy lady who shamelessly told him their marriage would yield many blessings. When he asked her how she knew that, she said her Mallam told her.

I was bewildered. I quite well know that she’s neither fit for him nor his scholastic family. He halts my busy mind, which is trying hard to dissect the whole scenario: “Muhammad”, he calls my name, “marrying Rahama would be the greatest mistake in my life”. That relieved my besieged mind, for I was contemplating whether or not I should tell him not to accept her proposal. “So, rest assured; I will avoid it like the plague”.

A few days or weeks, I can’t recall exactly, passed by, and I heard nothing from my dear neighbour cum friend, Rabiu or about Rahama’s blunt, in fact, unheard-of proposal. I had just started thinking the issue was dead and buried for good when he came to me with a bombshell.

“I am getting married next week”.

Wow! I said. I know he and his younger brother have been searching for a fitting life partner for him in the neighbourhoods. I also know he’s rich enough to solemnise his marriage within a few days if both parties agree. Thus, I ask:

“Who’s the lucky girl?”

His look changed from thrilled to timidity in a split second. I wish I could retract my question. But, in this deportment, he managed to respond: “Rahama”.

After calculating the atmosphere, I feel convinced that there is no need for any further explanation on how it comes to that. Her magic, shameless pursuit and insincere insistence have ultimately worked out. Therefore, I pray for the Almighty to bless the union and call it a day.

A few years later, I began to think that we all, who earlier condemned her, were proven wrong. She seems a wife everyone would want to have: caring, loving, dutiful, and generous towards him and his family. Yet, her significant frailty remains in how she handles religion. That too, we reason that she’s from a different background. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect her to behave the way we do or as we want.

Unbeknown to us, she’s simply buying time to portray her authentic self. She’s a wolf in sheep’s cloth. She is now doing the unthinkable; Rabiu has literally been her “yes man”. He worships her; he does everything to please her and parts with everyone she doesn’t like, including his brothers and sisters. He’s, to sum it up, blanketed in her world.

Rabiu is known for much discretion, but not any longer. You dare to tell him your undisclosed secret; you would hear it spoken of in the neighbourhoods. If you ask who told them, they would say Rahama.

Uncharacteristically enough and against Islam, Rabiu has, on several instances, bequeathed his wealth to be given to her should he die, as they don’t have any children yet. He cannot even reflect or recall that his father, who should rightly get the lion’s share, is still alive.

There is a single path to get to Rabiu now, and that’s through Rahama. Rabiu is for Rahama, and Rahama is for her family and pocket. He sees, but he cannot decipher. So everyone believes that he’s conjured. And that doesn’t last forever.

Muhsin Ibrahim is a student and staff at the Institute of African Studies, University of Cologne. He can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i, has condemned the attack on Monday, which spanned Ungwan Magaji, Kigam, Kisicho and Kikoba villages in Kauru local government area.

In a statement signed by the commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Mr Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufa’i “expressed his sadness over the attack and condemned it as an action of depraved entities stripped of every shred of humanity. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and sent his condolences to their families. The Governor tasked security agencies working in the area to sustain thorough investigations into the incident.”

According to the Defence Headquarters Operation Safe Haven report, armed assailants attacked the mentioned villages early on Monday morning and swiftly left six residents dead. The deceased have been identified as:

• Joseph Maza
• Timvan Cibi Ciwo
• Monday Titus
• Asabe Magani
• Laraba Danladi
• Yosi Danladi

In addition to the casualties, it was reported that eight houses, six huts, one motorcycle and a generator were razed during the attack. Some maize crops were also destroyed.

By Nura Jibo

 James Hadley Chase, the master thriller and fictional writing maestro of all time, described so often Mark Girland as a good-for-nothing secret agent with a distinct weakness for money and women. But Girland, unlike Hushpuppi, “finds himself in Prague for his latest adventure. Events in the Communist country prove all too much for Girland as he comes face to face with a sinister world of deception, fraud and corruption”.

That was exactly what happened to Abba Kyari and Hushpuppi! The Nigerian supercop turned American “robocop”/ Hushpuppi turned American prison “puppy”. They squarely fell in the ‘safety nets’ of an American FBI. And the result is another gripping thriller from another James Hadley Chase new fairytales.

But dear Nigerians, wait a minute!

Why should you get disturbed by this saga? It’s not something new. It’s normal within the Nigerian political, military and police spaces.

1. How could you Nigerians too often forget about IG Tafa Balogun corruption saga with Nuhu Ribadu?

2. How dare you Nigerians forget so soon the Magu Magu EFCC corruption drama with the Attorney General of the Nigerian Federation?

3. Why should you Nigerians err if at all you can take a hue in Farida Waziri, Lamorde and Co?

4. Is supercop or superheroism anything to go by in the Nigerian system? How could Nigerians so narrowly forget about the late Ali Kwara and his chivalrous pursuit of armed robbers in Nigeria? What happened afterwards?

5. Is it not the same politicians without any political hygiene that turned Kwara into a political contractor willy-nilly the way they transformed Kyari into a global celebrity on bringing to book criminals in Nigeria?

6. Why should you Nigerians continue to raise your temper on Kyari versus Hushpuppi when you already know how Diezani and Farouk Lawan ended up? What’s new? What’s so special about this case of a new Rambo on the loose?

7. Does the FBI or Nigerian police matter? If so, then catch your breath and rest your case until “THIS IS FOR REAL”!

And if it is for real, then little wonder…

“When a woman turns up in Paris with information to sell to the CIA, is it for real? It will soon become clear that it is, and the FBI, Nigerian police or the CIA aren’t the only ones to realise it. As the tale sweeps from America to Paris and Africa, combining espionage with violence and intrigue, this another drama from “James Hadley Chase” gives a new background for the Hushpuppi thriller while maintaining the highest standards of readability and watchability.

Happy reading and ranting and viewing the two Rambos on the loose!

Nura Jibo writes from Dutse, Jigawa State. He can be reached via jibonura@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

DCP Tunji Disu has been appointed to replace DCP Abba Kyari as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, following the indictment and suspension of DCP Kyari over alleged involvement in fraud purportedly perpetrated by an infamous fraudster, Hushpuppi.

The appointment was on Monday disclosed in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba.

Mr Mba was quoted as saying, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has today, 2nd August, 2021 approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

“The posting of the officer is on the heels of Management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the Unit for better service delivery.

“The IGP has charged the new Head of the IRT to demonstrate his professional competence in his leadership of the Unit. He also assured citizens that the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

The former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani and his supporters are considering defecting to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), The Daily Reality has learnt.

Following his recent resignation from the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Senator Sani and his supporters have been conducting a series of meetings on the issue and that they would soon come up with a stand. Recently, the former lawmaker hosted the 23 PDP local government party chairmen amid PDP defection rumours. Penultimate weeks ago, Senator Sani also visited some PDP bigwigs in the state, including former governors Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, and former gubernatorial aspirant, Isah Ashiru Kudan. 

No details were revealed about deliberations between Sani and the party chairmen and his visits to PDP stakeholders in the state. Still, sources have confirmed to The Daily Reality that the move was part of Sani’s swift consultation of power brokers in the PDP towards having a soft landing on a likely defection to the party. 
It will be recalled Senator Sani joined the PRP in October 2018 after he failed to win the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 Kaduna central senatorial seat. He served on the platform of the APC but was critical of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor El-Rufai’s governments from 2015-2019.