A financial inclusion expert, Tiko Okoye has highlighted the seven mistakes made by embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari following his alleged involvement in the Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi fraud case.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the United States Department of Justice had said ongoing investigations showed that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi allegedly bribed Kyari to arrest one Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, one of his accomplices in Nigeria.
In a court document released by the United States Department of Justice on Wednesday, titled: ‘Six Indicted in International Scheme to Defraud Qatari School Founder and then Launder over $1 Million in Illicit Proceeds’, Kyari was said to have been bribed to arrest one Kelly Chibuzor Vincent, 40, in Nigeria, who created bogus documents and arranged for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line to support the defrauding of a business person trying to provide $1.1m for the funding of a school in Qatar.
Allegation which the ‘super cop’ Kyari has denied, stating that he did not demand any money from Hushpuppi, only introduced the accused to a cloth seller whom Hushpuppi paid about N300,000.
According to Kyari, he never demanded for a dime from Hushpuppi, admitting his focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.
IGP Baba on August 1 recommended the suspension of the Kyari to the Police Service Commission, with effect from July 31, and also set up the SIP to investigate the allegations against him.
Reacting to the extradition and indictment by Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Okoye in an article published in the PUNCH stated that “the Truth is that Abba Kyari has committed not less than seven fatal mistakes that are creating PR and credibility nightmares for him, the Police High Command, and the Presidency.”
Mistake No. 1
Abba Kyari lived a very lavish lifestyle that was totally out of sync with his position and legitimate means. Worse still, he didn’t care who knew it, hence he kept uploading photos of trappings of his wealth on his Instagram and Twitter walls. The populace of any country in the world abhor seeing – or even hearing stories of – their cops imitating the lifestyles of fraudulent and ostentatious politicians and criminals.
Mistake No. 2
Abba Kyari not only mindlessly flaunted his wealth in the public square, but also allowed – if not encouraged – his younger brother to follow suit.
Mistake No. 3
When the story first broke, Kyari tried to pooh-pooh it by mocking and taunting the FBI and the Police High Command: “Hahahaha,” he tweeted, “indicted where, How? On social media, abi…good luck to dem bad belle people waiting to see us arrested.” Although the tweets were eventually deleted, they had incensed the FBI agents and fanned growing anger and consternation among the top echelons of the NPF.
Mistake No. 4
Even as he was talking too much too soon, much of what Kyari was averring in his defence was unconvincing and ludicrous. For example, he was quick to counter that the only connection between him and Hushpuppi was a request by the latter asking him to make copies of his (Kyari’s) fashionable wears, and that the relationship ended when he paid the designer the sum of N300,000 Hushpuppi had provided as payment for the finished products. Wondered Kyari: “Many people who admire our clothes are connected to the designer, so that is an offence now?”
Mistake No. 5
Indiscretion as well as lamentable lack of perspicacity evidenced in attending the burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother and having photos of his active involvement going viral on social media platforms.
Mistake No. 6
Allegedly threatening to bring others down with him if approval is given for him to be extradited to the USA, including retired and serving senior police officers and prominent members of the public. Some names have already gone viral on social media platforms.
Mistake No. 7
Capitalising on long-existing fault lines to goad the Police Service Commission and the PHC into another do-or-die battle for supremacy on policy matters. The PSC has since disclosed that it would conduct its own “separate and independent” investigation after receiving the IGP’s investigative report. Isn’t this simply a ruse to buy time for whatever reasons?
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