Nigeria Police Force

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.”

In a statement released on Sunday by the Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Frank Mba, titled, ‘FBI indictment: IGP recommends suspension of DCP Abba Kyari’, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) recommends Abba Kyari for an immediate suspension 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 Bureau 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 requests the Nigerian government for his extradition. He denies all charges in a Facebook post.

The IGP states that the suspension was expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the allegations against Kyari without interference. The statement in full reads:

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations touching on him. The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.

The IGP further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

The Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four (4) Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID). The SIP, inter alia, is to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari by the US Government as contained in relevant documents that have been availed the NPF by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The SIP is also to obtain detailed representation of DCP Abba Kyari to all the allegations levelled against him, conduct further investigations as it deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on the matter.

Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of the officer throughout the period of the investigations.”

By Ahmad Ganga

The arrest of Raymond Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, and the FBI’s revelation that indicted DCP Abba Kyari of being an accomplice to Hushpuppi’s fraudulent activities have exposed the naivety of some Nigerians on social media. Perhaps due to ingrained hatred for the incumbent government or the person of Kyari, many people are vindictively calling for Kyari to “surrender” himself to the FBI. However, this agency has no locus standi to carry out an arrest operation on foreign soils without the consent of the host countries.

Assuming the allegations raised by the FBI is true, America has no authority to arrest Kyari since the crime he was alleged to have committed is on Nigeria’s soil —not the US. Unless Nigeria Police Service Commission constitutes a panel to investigate whether the allegations are true or not; and that he’s found guilty before Nigeria’s government takes further action, the American government has no legal right to dictate whether DCP Kyari is guilty. And this requires due process under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — not US or FBI’s laws.

However, DCP Kyari has a fixed location which means he’s not on the run. Moreover, since a court in the US granted the arrest warrant — not Nigeria and Abba Kyari is not an American citizen —which gives him the right to fair hearing according to the laws of this land, it’s absurd to see Nigerians haggling to the bone marrow, saying Kyari is guilty of the allegations raised against his personality —even before Nigeria’s government enquires to know whether it’s true or not. But then Nigerians glorify anything foreign as though the foreign lands’ decision is a divine revelation.

I am not in support of Kyari’s heinous relationship with Hushpuppi, neither do I side with many sadists calling for his head. However, I believe there is more than meets the eye to this revelation. Let Nigeria decides whether DCP Kyari is guilty or not through an impending panel of investigation. At the moment, I can’t entirely agree with anyone saying DCP Kyari is culpable until proven by a grand jury.

Ahmad Ganga is a legislative assistant at the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He can be reached via ahmadgangaa@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A 45-year-old woman identified as Kafayat Lawal has purportedly hacked Ayomide Adekoya, her 17-year-old daughter, to death with a broken bottle, Punch newspaper has reported.

She was also said to have hacked another child of hers, who was later taken to the hospital.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State’s police public relations officer, stated that the suspect was apprehended after the information received by the Divisional Police Officer, Ogijo Divisional headquarters, CSP Mohammed Baba, at about 2:30 pm.

Oyeyemi added that the suspect locked her two daughters and hit and injured them with a broken bottle.

“Upon information, the DPO mobilised his men and moved to the scene where the two victims were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment before one of them gave up the ghost.

“The suspect was then arrested and taken to custody. On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have separated from her husband nine years ago, informed the police that her two daughters left home during the Sallah and didn’t return till the following day.

“This infuriated her, and when she wanted to beat them, people around pleaded on their behalf, and she left them, only for them to go out again the following day and passed the night outside. It was the annoyance that made her lock them inside and injured them both with a broken bottle.

“The older one Blessing Adekoya 19 was injured in the hand, while her younger sister Ayomide was stabbed in the chest and unfortunately gave up the ghost while receiving treatment,” Mr Oyeyemi said.

He also noted that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Men of the Nigeria Police Force in Kaduna State have on Thursday succeeded in apprehending two suspected armed robbers and a gunrunner, the police spokesperson in the state, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said in a statement.

Mr Jalige said, “The operatives of the Kaduna police, attached to the Kafanchan divisional headquarters, acted on information from a good Samaritan and intercepted an Opel Vectra vehicle with registration number KAF 733 MK driven by one person on July 28 at about 4:00 p.m.

“When a careful search of the suspicious vehicle was conducted, an AK47 rifle and two packets of 12-gauge shotgun shells that were concealed in the engine compartment of the car were recovered.

“Investigations are ongoing and the suspect has provided useful information to the police that will facilitate further breakthroughs.”

He also said that among those apprehended are two suspected armed robbery and car-snatching syndicates.

“The two suspects were arrested on July 26 and July 28.

“While on surveillance patrol within Sabon Gari area of Zaria, operatives of the command intercepted a Honda Civic vehicle with registration number NSR 92 HH driven by one person.

“A search of the said vehicle resulted in the recovery of an English Makarov pistol with one round of live 9mm ammunition and two fabricated revolver pistols.

“Investigation is being diligently carried out to retrieve some of their stolen vehicles, apprehending other gang members and equally recovering more of their operational weapons.

“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” added Mr Jalige.

He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity in their communities.