Nigerians have reacted to the claim by Nigerian cyber-fraud suspect, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, that he bribed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
We reported earlier that US Justice Department said court documents quoted Abbas as having disclosed during interrogation that he paid bribes to Kyari to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessperson.
Abbas (Hushpuppi), according to the documents asked DSP Kyari to arrest and jail a fellow fraudster Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after both were locked in a dispute presumably over how to share the $1.1 million loot received from the Qatari businessperson. Mr Vincent subsequently contacted the victim and informed him that he was being scammed by a syndicate involving him and Abbas.
DCP Abba Kyari, however, denied receiving money from Ramon Abbas.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Thursday, Kyari said he only assisted Hushpuppi to get native clothes and caps worth N300,000.
He wrote; “Friends; Abbas, who we later came to know as Hushpuppi, called our office about two 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 (sic) 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 (sic) 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.
“Later, he 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 N300,000 directly to the person’s account. The native clothes and caps (5 sets) were brought to our office and he sent somebody to collect them in our office.
“Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi 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. This is the true story. Vincent is alive; he can be contacted.
“For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious big money, they will be disappointed once again as our hands are clean and our record of service for two decades is open for everybody to see. They will continue seeing us serving our father land and we will continue responding to all distress calls from all Nigerians provided they are life threatening.”
Nigerians in their reactionary posts on social media noted how Hushpuppi must have been so influential that a Deputy Commissioner of Police would be helping him get native clothes.
@dondekojo commented; Several petitions against Abba Kyari for extortion and abuse in different states, they haven’t done anything about it.
@YemieFASH: So Hushpuppi can be sending a whole DCP around to buy caps for him
@Morris_Monye said; If Abba Kyari goes to the United States, he may not return again.
@KingDouyeAlfred; Make dem tell the US government “He has repented” make we see
Ayobami wrote; Hush was ordering packages to Police HQ? . Does Kyari think this is a joke?
Abdulwaheed Dauda said; At the mention of your name by Hushpuppi, my first reaction was to dismiss it as one of the kicks of the dying horse. Moreover, I would have denied the rebuttal, if it was from the page of another person.
However, since it’s coming from you, it is rather too weak, wack and left too much room for suspicions. Your response evoked much more questions than you attempted to clarify. I know for certainty, we have not seen the end of this case, but I pray you come out with unscathed image.
Oluwa Dare; Yeah, right. You helped him ‘buy clothes’. You must think everyone is dumb. You as a police officer should know that won’t fly. 2019 was just one year before he was arrested and there have been question marks about him before then. Anyways, if you are an honorable man, you should resign and go clear your name in the US if you’re that sure you are not part of his organization by being the ‘muscle’ he used to intimidate people back in Nigeria.
Felix Uroko said; In a sane clime, you would step aside for proper investigation, coming to the social media to try and defend yourself is total rubbish.