By Bayo Bernard
When Nigeria’s super cop Abba Kyari appeared in a photograph with Nigerian billionaire businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly called Obi Cubana in Oba, Anambra state during the burial ceremony of the celebrity club owner’s mother, not a few consider his action very controversial.
The sterling burial ceremonies attracted the crème of the Nigeria’s business community, even though controversies also loomed about some of the people that attended the event, and why a respected police officer would be seen at such social event.
While defending himself, the Kyari argued that it’s not out of place for him to attend the burial because Cubana is his friend.
Analysts also insist that Obi Cubana is not a criminal, therefore nothing is wrong with Kyari associating with him.
But the police officer has further been put on the spot for his alleged link to Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, aka Husspoppi, a popular international fraud star arrested last year by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence, FBI in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Not a few are now asking serious questions as to what Kyari is really up to.
Indeed, Kyari has not managed to steer off controversies despite his public reputation as one of the nation’s respected police officer. A Deputy Commissioner of Police with many prestigious awards to his name, Kyari who heads the Inspector General of Police, IGP Intelligence Response Team, IRT an elite club of police officers that specializes in busting crimes in the country, has been quite lucky considering the manner he has risen through the ranks.
Some of his achievements include the arrest, in 2017, of a notorious kidnapper, Chukwudi Onuamadike aka Evans in Lagos, and his novel effort in bringing Taraba state kindpin, Hamisu Wadume to book to answer for his crimes.
Recently too, Kyari’s team was drafted to the South East to arrest some notorious Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB members who almost turned Imo and other states in the region, to a killing field. The Kyari-led team performed excellently well, alongside other security forces as the violence in the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led state ala the entire south east has now abated.
But his unequalled ability to fete members of the underworld has also earned him trophies among keen public watchers, who have not stopped wondering why a respected cop would be associated with questionable characters such as MC Oluomo, the Chairman of NURTW.
The chairman of commercial bus drivers in Lagos is linked to top politicians in the state, including Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC and widely known for his involvement in the series of violence that has plagued the State of Aquatic Splendor, as Lagos is known for quite a long time.
Infamous for international fraud, Abbas, who is currently standing trial in the USA for committing miscellaneous internet fraud has opened up on how he allegedly bribed Kyari with $1 million to arrest a rival, Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after a business deal went awry.
Abbas’ is standing trial for his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24million in losses to his victims.
The fraudster who has now pleaded guilty for his crimes on April 20 is awaiting a verdict from a US court, which could earn him at least 20 years jail term.
While giving his testimony, Abba outlined how he employed Kyayi to go after his rival when a $1 million dollar deal involving the duo broke down. The syndicate had duped Qatari businessperson to the tune of the sum, but failed to agree on how to share proceed from the fraud.
To gain upper hand in the dog fight that ensued, Abbas caused Kyari to arrest and put in prison his partner in crime for a fee of ‘$1 million’ according to his testimony in the US court.
The court documents “outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria.
“According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment,” U.S. Justice department said in a statement.
The court documents also revealed how Abbas spent the cash to satisfy his ostentatious lifestyle.
“Approximately $230,000 of the stolen funds allegedly were used to purchase a Richard Mille RM11-03 watch, which was hand delivered to Abbas in Dubai and subsequently appeared in Hushpuppi’s social media posts.
“Other illicit proceeds from the scheme were allegedly converted into cashier’s checks, including $50,000 in checks that were used by Abbas and a co-conspirator to fraudulently acquire a St. Christopher and Nevis citizenship, as well as a passport for Abbas obtained by creating a false marriage certificate and then bribing a government official in St. Kitts,” US officials said.
Meanwhile, Kyari has denied the allegation, claiming that Abbas associate was arrested because he allegedly threatened the family of Abbas. According to him “Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hussppupi and nobody collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on threat to his family and released the suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the suspect,” Kyari said.
