A group under the aegis of Initiative for Better Societal Enlightenment (IBSE) has faulted light punishment for kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala, also known as Wadume and called on the federal government to appeal judgement to secure justice for his victims.
The Federal High Court in Abuja led by Justice Binta Nyako, who convicted Wadume of two of the 13-count charges against him and two others to seven years’ imprisonment.
The group in a statement on Monday condemning the light sentence lauded suspended DCP Abba Kyari for his doggedness in ensuring “Wadume would no longer be threat to innocent people as he is now cooling his heels in prison.”
A statement signed by Dr Ofilli Odey, the group’s Executive Director noted that if people like Kyari could man various leadership positions, “Nigeria will be progressing.”
Odey noted that, “Nigerians must commend Kyari because in the wider context, he is more Nigerian than today’s leaders.
“Someone like Kyari would have compromised because Wadume is very rich and influential and was ready to pay what ever amount but Kyari stood his ground. Today justice is served.
“He also did not compromise in the arrest of another dangerous Kidnap kingpin, Evans who offered kyari 3 million dollars for him to be quietly kept in a hotel for 3 days and after payment of the 3 million dollars, tbat he should be released to go but Kyari rejected the offer and reported the arrest to his Boss the then IGP Ibrahim Idris, who ordered the Police Public Relations Officer to release the arrest to the public.
“If Kyari had accepted that offer from Evans, He would have released Evans quietly without anybody knowing to continue his kidnappings and nobody would have known about the arrest Since the Nigerian government or Police have not provided any funds for the manhunt for Evans.The whole operation which took several months from beginning to end was funded by Kyari.
“Likewise, Kyari have not compromised with any of the thousands of armed robbers, kidnappers, terrorist, murderers that he arrested all across the country without Government funding.
“Kyari would have been very rich if he had collected money and released these dangerous criminals back to the society quietly because they were all ready to pay whatever amount to be released quietly without members of the public knowing.
“If there is a single Kidnapper, terrorist, bandit, armed robber, murderer etc among the thousands Kyari have arrested that he has collected one kobo and released, please let that person be brought to National Television to testify.
“This is the type of sacrifice this young man made for his country for 2 decades, which resulted to all the awards and commendations he got that attracted a lot of envy and enemies to him,” Odey said.
Expressing disappointment that the prosecution may have failed to pursue a good case, which is why the sentence appears light, Odey however said, “What we can take from the sentence is that, Wadume has been jailed. The federal government can also appeal the judgement to seek better judgement so that notorious criminals like Wadume can get the type of judgement they deserve.
“Keeping someone many people say is innocent in prison without bail for allegations that are bailable in law, is not good for the psyche of Nigerians and other uniform personnel serving the nation, that will say, if somebody like Kyari, who gave his all for Nigeria and is being treated this way because of clear set up by envious colleagues and media trial, they will equally be treated like that by some mischief forces no matter the sacrifice they make for their country.
“Fighting crime especially high level crime is not easy. That’s why Kyari has a lot of enemies. We all know, one does not need to commit wrong before being implicated. People can easily set you up even if you do your job diligently especially when your achievements are all over the country and you have recognitions and awards from the presidency, National assembly etc like no other person in History of Nigeria. That alone will attract alot of enemies and some envious colleagues to plan against him,” the statement said.
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