The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has described the indictment of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Alhaji Kyari, by the United States (U.S.) District Court for the Central District of California over allegation by billionaire fraudster, Abbas Ramon, also known as Hushpuppi as “the attempted intimidation of a police officer right inside his independent fatherland.”
In a statement signed by the group’s National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, AYCF warned that “nothing must happen to him( DCP Kyari).”
The Northern group rejected the purported plan to arrest DCP Kyari by Nigeria and handing him over to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) as “totally unacceptable, a slap on the sensibility of our compatriots and a ridicule on one of our finest crack detectives.”
The group said it would keep a tab on the happenings on the matter, stressing that there was no justification for “singling out one of Nigeria’s most effective and efficient police officers for castigation.”
AYCF, therefore, urged “all Nigerians who are truly patriotic to stand behind a man who has made an unrivalled mark on the sands of time by diligently serving his fatherland.”
They called on relevant stakeholders in the country, especially civil society organizations to “rally round this officer who risked his life in multiple operations across Nigeria, a fact proved many times through BBC news coverage of such operations.
“While we are conscious of our sovereignty as a nation, we demand justice for a man with unrivalled records of detective capabilities in the recent history of Nigeria”, the youths said.
Abba Kyari, former head of the Inspector General of the Police’s Intelligence Response Team, previously managed the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as Officer-In-Charge was known as “Super Cop” of the Nigeria Police Force and often described as “The Most Decorated Officer In The History Of The Nigerian Police.”
According to the U.S. Court document on United States of America, Plantiff, V. Abba Alhaji Kyari, Defendant, “Plaintiff, United States of America, by and through its counsel of record, hereby requests detention of defendant and gives notice of the following material factors:
- Temporary 10-day Detention Requested ($ 3142 (d)) on the following grounds:
- Present offense committed while defendant was on release pending (felony trial)…”
Hushpuppi, who is well known in Social Media circles for his luxury life, was arrested in United Arab Emirate (UAE) last year and extradited to the U.S. over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, and identity theft.
U.S. Court documents state that during interrogation, Hushpuppi disclosed that he conspired with Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kyari to arrest and jail a co-fraudster, Chibuzo Vincent, after the latter threatened to expose a $1.1 million scam committed against a Qatari businessman.
The Court document shows that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been ordered to track down Kyari and produce Abba Kyari in the U.S. for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi; and his co-conspirators.
The Court said Hushpuppi and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money.
Specifically, the Court documents shows that in September 2019, Kyari left his job in Nigeria and traveled to the U.A.E. to hobnob with Hushpuppi who sent a car and driver to pick him from the airport and drive him all through the trip.
The “Super Cop” risks 20 years imprisonment if found guilty of the allegations.
“A criminal complaint and an indictment contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Both conspiracy counts alleged in the indictment carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term,” the court document reveal.
Judge Otis Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Mr Kyari and hold him in U.S. custody was unsealed on July 26.
But in his reaction, Kyari denied accepting bribe from the suspected fraudster, saying Hushpuppi reached his office that someone was threatening to harm his family members.
He said in a bid to save live, he and his men swung into action and arrested the persons whose number was provided by Hushpuppi.
According to Kyari: “Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2 years ago that somebody in Nigeria Seriously threatened to kill his Family here in Nigeria and he sent the person’s Phone number and pleaded we take action before the Person attacks his family.”
“We traced and arrested the Suspect and after investigations we discovered there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life And they are long time friends who have money issues between them hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.
“Nobody demanded for a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to Save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.
“For Good Nigerians who appreciate our Service please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false Narratives without any Evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors.”