By Ahmad Musa Husaini
It is intriguing reading through the FBI/DoJ indictment of DCP Abba Kyari, a sad, premature end to what was once a promising and brilliant career. But for anyone familiar with Kyari’s lifestyle, the chance of a scandal erupting is only a matter of when and not if. Stories of DCP Kyari’s affluence elicit strong suspicions, but understandable given the unholy alliance between law enforcement and the Nigerian big men they protect.
What no one anticipated is the FBI/Hushpuppy angle. If the allegations were to come from a Nigerian institution or media organization, it would be dismissed, questioned or ignored altogether. The FBI is a different ballgame. Even the Nigeria Police Force trust (or fear) the FBI more than itself. Granted that DCP Kyari remains innocent until proven guilty, but there is no denying that the evidence against him is too strong and the indictment report too damning.
Let us waive the FBI document and examine Kyari’s poor attempt at defense which ended up implicating himself even further. Firstly, he accepted arresting a suspect based on information provided by Hushpuppy. He also accepted releasing the suspect after finding that Hushpuppy’s allegations were unfounded. Yet, he instituted no case or reprimand against Hushpuppy for feeding him with fake allegations that led to the unjust incarceration of an innocent individual!
Now, two uneasy alternatives lie before DCP Kyari. Either he’s tried in Nigeria or go through a hearing that will see him extradited to the US. The former appears more likely. But even if he gets a favorable trial in Nigeria, his career and reputation as supercop is destroyed forever. He will be remembered and defined more by this act of professional failing than by his numerous exploits busting criminal syndicates in Nigeria.
There’s no danger to a nation than a bad (corrupt) cop and bad judge, more dangerous than even corrupt leaders because the above two hold the instruments to rein in corrupt leaders. Bad cops and bad judges can destroy the fabrics of justice in every society. Unfortunately, it is the bad ones that prevail in Nigeria. Let’s not even pretend to be surprised by the revelations. We consider the ability to ‘pay’ the police to arbitrarily detain people as a validation of our superior social status.
Finally, Kyari’s travails are the result of his own individual failings. It is not an attack on the north or on Islam as some mischievously alleged, both have nothing to do with corrupt behaviour and injustice. Our only interest should be justice and fairness, and DCP Kyari will get the chance to defend himself in court.
