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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