Did You Do It? No, I Didn’t . . .

By Abubakar D. Sani, Esq.

"I am innocent!";
Says Abba Kyari;
You might well be;
Only time will tell

What is clear is the connection;
Between you and confessed felon -
Hushpuppy a.k.a. Ramon;
You were his agent of sorts -

Harassing his business partners;
Updating his wardrobe;
Not to mention your social media posts;
All unbecoming of a police officer

For now, bro;
The best policy?
Keep quiet and lie low;
Review your tactics

Engage with your counterparts;
'Over there' - i.e., the Americans;
After all, as a famed cop;
You are supposed to fear no one

What is the worst possible outcome?;
Disgrace? Imprisonment?;
Come on, it could be worse! -
Such as, for instance, death . . .

So, this is the moment of truth;
What are you gonna do?;
Man up to the charges?;
Or, continue denying them publicly?

The choice should be obvious -
A no-brainer if ever there was one;
Especially for an intelligent cop -
Such as you - of course!

So, go ahead, Abba;
Bite the bullet;
Throw down the gauntlet;
Engage with the Americans

Take the fight to them;
What have you got to fear?;
What the heck!
Dare the lion in his den;

Let the chips fall where they will;
As an officer of the law;
Let it take it's course;
Die like a man - on your feet

Having said that, though, bro –
Let’s face it;
Your admission of being;
On Hushpuppi’s payroll –

Which is apparently your Achille’s heel;
In this whole sordid affair;
Might yet be your undoing;
Even if you sound like you don’t care –

As you clearly did in your Facebook post;
Shortly after the news broke;
Is that anything to go by?
Well, Nigerian law will decide;

The 1999 Constitution;
The Police Act and Regulations;
And the Public Service Rules
All of which bar someone like you –

From engaging in precisely;
What you admitted to doing;
Namely, that not only did you ask for;
But you received unofficial gratification –

For yourself and your team;
Fellow police officers, that is;
For what – to all intents and purposes –
Amounted to gross abuse of office -

Detaining and torturing;
An innocent citizen;
For no just cause;
Just for Mammon

However, don’t take my word for it;
Advert your mind;
To paragraphs 9 and 6;
Of Schedule Five –

Of the 1999 Constitution;
It is there in black and white;
The sanction for their infraction?
That will be decided in fullness of time

Starting with, perhaps –
The Code of Conduct Tribunal;
Where, you should be availed;
Of every right due in such a case

So, we won’t get ahead of ourselves;
We will cross that bridge –
Only when we get there;
In other words, Alhaji Kyari –

You are innocent of all charges;
Until you are proven guilty;
In a court of law or tribunal;
So, relax, it’s not over till it’s over!

You might yet pull;
A rabbit out of the hat;
And, confound your ‘traducers’
And, even neutrals, who –

Are at a loss;
At the seemingly spectacular fall;
Of an erstwhile super cop
Is this the end of it all? –

They wonder – sometimes loudly;
Sometimes under their breaths;
But, you have to be stoic;
And behave like it’s already under your belt

‘Yeah, I’m cool’,
Should be your attitude;
‘It comes with the territory’ -
‘Doesn’t it?’

So, soldier on;
Prepare your defence –
Or throw in the towel;
Is that really an option?

Either way, let it be said;
When all is said and done;
He was human – warts and all;
Or, to paraphrase Edgar Guest –

When he was tested;
He showed up at his best;
Whether he passed or not;
Is not the question -

He did not cop out;
But took it on the chin –
Bravely damning the consequences:
‘I helped out Ramon? How?’

Or, as we say in law;
He who asserts must prove;
So, bring it on;
Observing the proceedings is all I need do . .

I need not say anything;
The evidential burden – and more;
Is on the prosecution;
Throughout - and it doesn’t shift

‘I’m ready when you are’;
Game, Set, Match;
‘A Farewell to Arms’*? Perhaps . . .
‘It’s out of my hands’

*The title of a poem by English 16th century dramatist, George Peele and also that of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, published in 1929.
Abubakar D. Sani, Esq. Kano- Nigeria, 08034533892 xl4sure@gmail.com

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