TECHDIGEST – No less than 31 lawyers have expressed their interest in defending a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, suspended in connection with a $1.1m scam involving a self-confessed fraudster, Ramon Abbas a.k.a Hushpuppi.

Barrister Bappah Salisu, who spoke for the group of lawyers drawn from the 19 Northern states in the country, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement issued in Abuja.

The legal practitioners said their decision to offer free legal services to Kyari was in response to the recent call by the Coalition of Northern Groups for the preservation of his fundamental rights following an indictment by a court in the United States of America.

According to him, there were several procedural lapses bordering on breaches of international protocol in the FBI attempt to have Kyari, a former Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, extradited to the U.S. to face criminal charges.

He said, “We would raise questions involving the possibility of breaches to Kyari’s fundamental rights entrenched in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right which essentially state that every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person and every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard.

“This comprises: the right to an appeal to competent national organs against acts of violating his fundamental rights as recognized and guaranteed by conventions, laws, regulations and customs in force.

“The right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty by a competent court or tribunal; the right to defence, including the right to be defended by counsel of his choice; the right to be tried within a reasonable time by an impartial court or tribunal.”

He further said they would also weigh the FBI procedures against Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which entitled the embattled Kyari to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court, or other tribunal.

He said, “Subsections 9 and 10 of this section also stipulates that everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law and everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

“Also, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights also states that everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.”

Source: vanguard News

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TECHDIGEST – Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has deleted a post on his verified Facebook account after the Federal Bureau of Investigation alleged that money laundering suspect, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, paid N8m or $20,600 to the police officer to arrest and detain a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Vincent.

Upon his indictment last week, Kyari had on July 29, 2021, published a defence against the allegation of collusion in an alleged $1.1m fraud against a Qatari businessman but he deleted the post last night after many Nigerians pointed out the logical gaps in his denial.

The United States District Court for the Central District of California had accused Kyari, Hushpuppi and four others of fleecing the Qatari investor of $1.1m.

Kyari, who has 447,353 followers on Facebook as of the time of filing this report, had taken to the Blueville on on July 29, 2021 to chronicle his denial against the allegations by the US court.

Kyari had claimed that Hushpuppi raised the alarm that Vincent wanted to take his life. The cop, however, said upon the arrest of Vincent, investigation showed that “they (Hushpuppi and Vincent) are long-time friends who have money issues between them hence we released the suspect on bail to go”.

The cop had also added, “Nobody demanded a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.

“Later, he (Hushpuppi) saw some of my native clothes and caps on my social media page and he said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent about N300k (N300,000) directly to the person’s account. The native clothes and caps (five sets) were brought to our office and He sent somebody to collect them in our office.”

However, FBI Special Agent, Andrew Innocenti, in a document titled, ‘Criminal Complaint By Telephone Or Other Reliable Electronic Means’ filed before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleged that Hushpuppi contracted the services of Kyari after Chibuzo allegedly threatened to expose the alleged $1.1m fraud committed against the Qatari businessman.

45 of the document dated February 12, 2021 which became public recently stated, “Kyari provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than Kyari himself.”

“This was not the only time that Abbas arranged payments with Kyari”, adding, “On May 20, 2020, Abbas sent Kyari transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person Abbas knew in the U.A.E.— a person also arrested with Abbas in Abbas’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020 — to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria.

“The amounts on the transaction receipts totalled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information,” the FBI Agent added. A warrant of arrest has since been issued by the court against Kyari.

Kyari subsequently deleted his “N300,000” Facebook post after Innocenti’s accusation became public. He also deleted a third-party post authored by a former minister in his defence.

Kyari’s post had attracted a lot of scrutiny from thousands of his social media followers and many Nigerians who expressed disappointment in the conduct of the detective and “celebrated cop”.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that Kyari, the suspended former Head of the Intelligence Response Team, appeared before the Special Investigation Panel, headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike.

Kyari, presented his defence to the SIP at the Force headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday. The panel constituted by Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, is expected to probe Kyari and submit its findings to the IGP.

Also, the new Head of the Intelligence Response Team, Tunji Disu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, resumed at the Guzape, Abuja headquarters of the unit on Tuesday.

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TECHDIGEST – More details have emanated on the alleged shady deal between suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, and Nigerian Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

The details are contained in court documents filed by the United States Government against Huspuppi, Kyari and four other suspected members of an internet fraud syndicate.

The U.S Government named Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (Ray Hushpuppi), Abba Alhaji Kyari (Deputy Commissioner of Police), Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, Vincent Kelly Chibuzo, Rukayat Motunraya Fashola and Bolatito Tawakalitu Agbabiaka as defendants in the criminal complaint it filed before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

The complaint was filed on behalf of the U.S government by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent, Andrew John Innocenti.

Meanwhile, following reports linking him to Hushpuppi’s alleged fraudulent activities, Kyari had on Thursday denied the allegations in a statement he posted on his Facebook page.

But in the court documents the FBI agent provided text messages, photos and transcripts of WhatsApp calls exchanged between Hushpuppi and the Deputy Police Commissioner.

The document showed how DCP Kyari arrested and detained a member of Hushpuppi’s clique, Vincent Kelly Chibuzo, at the behest of the alleged fraudster.

Hushpuppi told Kyari that Chibuzo had tried to expose a fraudulent scheme and divert the proceeds intended for him and a member of his clique after they fell out.

Part of the document reads: “ABBAS then arranged to have KYARI arrest and imprison CHIBUZO in Nigeria for attempting to redirect fraudulent proceeds intended for ABBAS and JUMA to himself, to keep CHIBUZO from interfering with the scheme. This section discusses those events and KYARI’s involvement in the conspiracy.”

“On January 15, 2020, this time using WhatsApp, ABBAS sent an audio recording to KYARI, stating, essentially, that he wanted to remind KYARI about what they discussed earlier,” referring to his request for Kyari to arrest and detain Chibuzo.

“On January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent the following threats to CHIBUZO: “I dey always tell people to think well before they offend me and make them make sure they fit stand the consequences when the time comes. I won’t say more than that but very soon, very very soon, the wrath of my hands shall find you and when it does, it will damage you forever. At this point I no get discussion with you, u have committed a crime that won’t be forgiven, that is punishable and you shall receive die punishment in due time I swear with my life you will regret messing with me, you will even wish you died before my hands will touch you.”

The document further showed that, “Also on January 16, 2020, ABBAS sent a message to KYARI on WhatsApp, and then placed five calls to another phone number (+2348060733588) that was listed as “ABBA KYARI.” Call records show that the last three of the calls were answered and that one of the calls lasted more than two minutes.

“Shortly after that, ABBAS received a message from KYARI, confirming “We would pick him today or tomorrow.” ABBAS wrote, “I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.” KYARI confirmed “Yes ooo.”

“ABBAS planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested CHIBUZO for that service. This was not the only time that ABBAS arranged payments with KYARI.

“On May 20, 2020, ABBAS sent KYARI transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person ABBAS knew in the U.A.E.—a person also arrested with ABBAS in ABBAS’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020—to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria. The amounts on the transaction receipts totaled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.

“…on January 20, 2020, KYARI sent to ABBAS biographical, identifying information for CHIBUZO, along with a photograph of him. In a conversation immediately following, ABBAS confirmed “that is him sir.”

“KYARI stated, “We have arrested the guy . . . He is in my Cell now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.

“KYARI sent the biographical information about, and photograph of, CHIBUZO to ABBAS using two different WhatsApp numbers—the second of which KYARI said was his “private number.” From that point on, KYARI and ABBAS primarily discussed the arrest and detention of KYARI through WhatsApp on this “private number.”

“After receiving the photograph of CHIBUZO, ABBAS stated, “I want him to go through the serious beating of his life.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha,” and ABBAS replied, “Seriously sir.” KYARI then asked for details about what CHIBUZO did “on audio,” which KYARI said was “So that we will know what to do.”

“In response to KYARI’s question about what CHIBUZO had done to ABBAS, ABBAS sent KYARI an audio message, which is transcribed here, describing how CHIBUZO had tried to steal away a fraud victim (i.e., “the job”) from him: “What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details. Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process, he tell the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, “These document they sent to you before. These people are fake. This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,” and all these things to divert the job for himself.

“After listening to the message, KYARI wrote, “Ok I understand. But he has not succeeded.” ABBAS claimed CHIBUZO had taken some money, and provided KYARI with two screenshots, one of which contained the phone number 3054405586 (the phone number CHIBUZO used to contact the Victim Businessperson). The screenshots showed a person contacting the Victim Businessperson and stating that he was providing information to try to “help” the Victim Businessperson. KYARI responded, “Yeah I understand.” KYARI did not request other information or evidence relating to CHIBUZO’s role in the scheme, ask questions about the nature of the transaction, or ask about why CHIBUZO told the Victim Businessperson that ABBAS was “fake.”

“ABBAS then told KYARI, “Now the [Victim Businessperson] was skeptic to pay me the money cos he keep attacking the [Victim Businessperson] from his end. Now I can handle the [Victim Businessperson] correctly.” ABBAS further told KYARI that he wanted to pay money to send CHIBUZO to jail for a long time, stating “Please sir I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.” KYARI responded, “Ok bro, I understand. I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case. We will do something about it.”

“ABBAS responded, “Let me know how I can send money to the team sir. let them deal with him like armed robber.” KYARI responded, “OK I will send their account details to u.” ABBAS further wrote, “He betray me and try to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah bro.” ABBAS then continued, “I want him to suffer for many years.” KYARI responded, “Hahahaha…Hahahaha.”

“Approximately six minutes later, KYARI provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than KYARI himself. ABBAS responded “Ok sir, tomorrow by noon,” indicating that he would make the payment to KYARI’s team by the next day.

“Approximately a month later, on February 19, 2020, KYARI sent a message to ABBAS, saying, “Hello hush with [sic] need to talk about the subject under detention with me.” ABBAS asked “Should I call u on this number sir?” to which KYARI replied, “Yes call me.”

“The following day, KYARI sent ABBAS multiple photographs of CHIBUZO to ABBAS, including close-up photographs showing a rash or skin disease on CHIBUZO’s torso and arms. ABBAS responded, “I don pity am, make them leave am from Tuesday.” KYARI wrote, “Ok bro, they just brought him from the hospital. The fever and the rashes is giving him serious Wahala. He got the disease from other suspects in the cell.” ABBAS responded, “I see am, I no too pity am. That’s what people like him deserve but I go forgive am for God sake.”

“In other words, based on my training and experience with Nigerian Pidgin, ABBAS was essentially stating, in part, “I don’t pity him. That’s what people like him deserve, but I will forgive him for God’s sake.”

“Based on the date of the messages and later discussion described in paragraph 150, ABBAS was—on Thursday, February 20, 2020-requesting that KYARI not to release CHIBUZO until Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

“ABBAS then told KYARI that CHIBUZO’s girlfriend messaged him, trying to raise one million Naira to secure CHIBUZO’s release, and said ABBAS promised to contribute 100,000 Naira. KYARI stated “They were thinking it’s normal arrest that is why they think money can remove him . . . No money can remove him here. Hahahaha.” ABBAS added, “But it’s better for them to think that way, I like it like that,” and KYARI responded, “Yeah.”

“ABBAS then said, “No problem sir from Tuesday he can go,” apparently giving KYARI his blessing to release CHIBUZO from custody. KYARI responded, “Ok bro. We will also keep his phone and other gadgets for some weeks.” ABBAS responded, “Yes those ones they should not give him again, those ones are gone . . . Make he no see those ones again for life,” instructing KYARI not to return CHIBUZO’s electronic devices. KYARI responded, “Yes he will not see it [¶] Again,” indicating that he would accede to ABBAS’ request.

“ABBAS Defrauded the Victim Businessperson of an Additional $180,000

“On February 14, 2020—shortly after JUMA had told ABBAS that he would not share the $299,983.58 that he had received from the Victim Businessperson with ABBAS—the Victim Businessperson confided in ABBAS, who was still pretending to be “Malik” the Wells Fargo banker, that she/he believed JUMA had been scamming her/him. ABBAS claimed to be surprised and falsely.”

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TECH DIGEST – In as perfect a response as one could give to social media click baiters alluding to ritualistic and illicit sources behind the “spraying” display at his mother’s burial ceremony, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana while speaking to BBC Pidgin, emphatically stated; ” native doctor no fit give you money, becos im children, na dem dey fetch water for stream” (Translated: Native doctor cannot make you rich, because they are his children that fetch water from the stream).

Obi Cubana is from Oba, Anambra State and is an Igbo man and on the weekend when friends and associates came to do him honour at his mother’s burial, he came face to face with a most distasteful stereotypical diatribe typically reserved for “Igbo’s” (money ritualist) – a most disgusting tag not founded in any reality.

This mindless allusion that casts a whole race of people in such light is tiresome and defies reason, especially when it is the Igbo race.

I stand to be corrected, when I say, the Igbo’s are the most hard-working, industrious, ingenious people on the African continent and in the top echelon on the face of the earth.

The Igbo man dares, where others are reticent. He stoops to conquer, eyes on the prize, suffering and taking indignities in his stride where others are prideful.

He is pragmatic and uniquely wired to be ingenious where others are stymied or weighted by inaction and resigned to their fate.

It is of this stock that Obi Cubana is from and the overwhelming majority of their success stories are won through a tenacious will to succeed and lawfully at that.

Yes, the show of opulence in the spraying of money might put some “moralistic” noses out of joint, but such displays have been made a national sport by Nigerian elite “misleaders” who have institutionalized and elevated the display of conspicuous consumption to an art form.

At least, those who graced the Oba event have not been tagged amongst the lot, who loot our collective commonwealth and hide humongous amounts in pits, inside pillow, under cooking pot, animal gullets or in “Panama papers” shrouded foreign accounts.

And yes, even though I am not in sync with the “heavy” display of money in Oba, my personal disposition does not deify me as a “god” to become judgmental. If anything, I understand the manifest power of “single stories” once taken hold.

Obi Cubana, who in recent days, had to offer a public clarification that he was not Cubana Chief Priest, has amazingly up to his mother’s burial kept a low and unflashy profile considering he is an entertainment big-shot.

The show-biz industry all over the world is one where it’s players are forever in an unending quest for their own peculiar holy grail, which entails going to any length to get “noticed” and “talked about”.

It is in this context that the spectacle of “Oba” should be situated. Obi Cubana and majority of his guests are of the show-biz world!

For those who got on very high horses taking subjective measurements of the amount of money rain in Oba, for surely their grouse must be in the measurement, as money rain is a national sport that takes place on a daily basis in ceremonies across Nigeria, then they should know that their commentary has only succeeded in making the event a “dream” show-biz success – “getting noticed and talked about”.

As for the odious stereotypical vituperations thrown at Obi Cubana and his “men”, it is a given that they, just like the mudslingers and indeed every other Nigerian, if found wanting in acquiring dubious wealth will face justice according to law.

Under no circumstances otherwise, should anyone be venomously castigated for their way of life just because it differs from another’s.

Obi Cubana’s story of fighting the odds to become successful as told on BBC Pidgin is a very Nigerian story and very uniquely a storied theme among Igbo’s and many such testimonies abound.

His single story is a mirror to countless others and I can testify in witness to a few myself as indeed I am sure many can.

That there are evil people who are participants in ritualistic killings for money rituals is not in question. That such ritualistic acts is prevalent across the country and not typical to any particular place is empirically not in doubt. However, not every young man who “makes it” is a ritualist. Until proven otherwise, young people in Nigeria who succeed in the face of dire odds deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Talking to BBC Pidgin, Obi Cubana said; “Work, pray, be good. Dem no dey cut soap for anybody for this world” (translated: Work, pray and be good. There is no easy route to success)

Nigeria’s super cop, Abba Kyari, Obi’s friend and a man who I am sure, has to be very particular in his associations, had this to say of Obi Cubana; “Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana is one of the most hardworking entrepreneurs and humble personalities that I have known for many years. He is a brother and good friend” Full stop

Victor Ikhatalor, ambassador of Nigerian Industry and Business. He can be reached via email: kingjvic7@gmail.com

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