Group Urges Federal Govt To Appeal Wadume’s Light Conviction

A group under the aegis of Initiative for Better Societal Enlightenment (IBSE) has faulted the light sentence given to kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala, also known as Wadume and called on the federal government to appeal the judgement to secure justice for his victims.

The Federal High Court in Abuja led by Justice Binta Nyako, convicted Wadume of two of the 13-count charges against him and two others to seven years’ imprisonment.
The group in a statement yesterday condemned the light sentence and lauded suspended DCP Abba Kyari for his doggedness in ensuring that “Wadume would no longer be a threat to innocent people as he is now cooling his heels in prison.”

A statement signed by the group’s executive director, Dr Ofilli Odey, noted that if people like Kyari could man various leadership positions, “Nigeria will be progressing.”
Odey said, “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 whatever 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, that 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.”