MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Ismaila Oguntade (Guest Writer)
The furore that followed the arrest and detention of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has in no way deterred the Inspector General of Police Usman Baba Alkali from taking professional action to deal with the matter.
Since the last two weeks when the arrest and detention of the former celebrated super cop over an alleged drug deal became public, the actions taken by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, have brought out the professional and managerial skill of Nigeria’s number one police officer.
Therefore, the last may not have been heard about the alleged deal involving Kyari.
This is because the throwback of the issue and, especially its accompanying whirlwind, remain fresh in the public space.
The Inspector General of Police’s decisive actions, following the breaking news, have been able to douse the huge tension that was brewing. Nigerians, especially human right groups have commended the IGP for acting decisively and professionally as the man in charge of police management.
One can recall that Kyari, variously described as a ‘Super Cop’ for his numerous exploits in bursting crimes across the country, was suspended last year, following the revelation by alleged Instagram fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called, Huspuppi.
Huspuppi has been on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, over scams running to millions of dollars.
Huspuppi has however also accused Kyari of partaking in the proceeds of scam in a $1.1 million deal wherein a Dubai school owner was ripped off. Abba Kyari was alleged to have been implicated over his role in facilitating a deal among the fraudsters.
This is an allegation which prompted the FBI to declare Kyari wanted to answer to the charges.
But while the dusts that followed the Huspuppi saga was yet to settle, came the allegation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, that Kyari belonged to a powerful international drug cartel.
The Agency has gone ahead to show video evidence and interrogation of Kyari, following his arest and detention by the retired General Buba Marwa led NDLEA.
The Agency has accused the suspended Kyari of negotiating 25 kg of cocaine, among other sundry allegations.
Addressing a press conference two Mondays ago, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi said of Kyari’ s complicit in the drug trade: ” We have no reason to shield anyone over the investigation into the 25 kg cocaine deal worth thousands of dollars, involving DCP Abba Kyari and others.”
Among other things, he said, “Recall that after NDLEA requested for Kyari and others for interrogation, they were questioned by the Police after which they were handed over along with the report of their interrogation”.
Indeed, the IGP is not one to be caught flatfooted. Baba immediately ordered the closure of all Intelligence Response Team, IRT, and Tactical Squad Satellite Units of the Policc across the country, a move described as commendable by Nigerians, especially by human right groups, who had long detested them.
They contended that the IGP had demonstrated tactical discipline, forthrightness and administrative acumen.
The Police, under Baba’s watch also urged the NDLEA to look into its own house with a view to dealing with bad eggs within.
Speaking through its spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Police accused the Agency of not doing the needful.
According to Adejobi, who only recently took over his new role following the deployment of the erstwhile spokesperson, Frank Mba, “investigation also established that the international narcotics’ cartel involved in this case, have strong ties with some officers of the NDLEA, who are on their payroll”.
He added that the two arrested drug couriers also “confirmed that they have been enjoying their relationship with the NDLEA.”
Former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, has also commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Akali Baba, for the bold steps to have handed over the alleged Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari to the authorities of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) for investigation on his involvement in Cocaine business.
Arase said that , the step was a good one in the right direction and not a faceoff between the two Agencies of government.
“Though the approach with which the case was handled might be slightly wrong, but suffice it to say that anyone who involves in professional misconduct of an Organization or Criminal against the state must face the consequences”
He stated that, the IGP, Akali, has taken a good step by suspending the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) because the conceptualization of the IRT should not be a federal Police Unit.
“I established the IRT during my administration and in our organogram there it ought to be a centrally controlled Police Unit by the Inspector General of Police office to act promptly on any social disorder.
“IRT, is not banned or suspended, I think the IGP is realigning the organogram of IRT so that it can have commands and controls”
‘All the satelite offices need to be scrapped off because there are not part of our plans.”
