Olajengbesi in a statement on Sunday said journalists should be allowed to cover Kyari’s trial.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, one of the Nigeria-based lawyers of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, has demanded that the trial of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, over alleged bribery be made open.
On Sunday, August 1, 2021, the Police Service Commission suspended Kyari over his alleged involvement in a $1.1m internet fraud with a notorious fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi.
The police said kyari’s suspension “would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.”
Commending the police for investigating the case against the embattled officer, Olajengbesi in a statement on Sunday said journalists should be allowed to cover Kyari’s trial.
The statement reads in part, “Indeed, it is rather uncommon in our experience as a people to find such spine and resolve in our hero-worship climate where a few persons are revered above the law and due process. IGP Usman Bala has demonstrated appreciable commitment to the resolution of this matter in the interest of truth and justice and must now see that he stands steadfast to this path even in the face of expected pressure to do otherwise.
“DCP Abba Kyari who had hitherto assumed a rather amused and dismissive approach to the serious allegations against his person and office, must take good advantage to clear his name by making himself available for the investigations to allow the Nigeria Police Force to run a fine comb through the allegations brought forward against his person before the SIP led by Deputy Inspector-General Joseph Egbunike.
“The Special Investigation Panel must undertake the task before them with a sense of duty and loyalty only to the truth. It must rid itself of bias considerations for, favourable or unfavourable disposition to DCP Kyari while equally availing him ample opportunity to make a representation of his defence against the allegations against him.
“The very image of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly its ethos and claims to be corruption-free is being examined by the watchful public at national and international levels. IGP Usman Alkali Bala thus have an uphill task to dutifully acquit itself in this matter and in doing so, help save the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force.
“It is therefore a demand in the interest of justice that the conduct of the investigations be transparent and open, with full press access. The Nigeria Police Force should know that Nigerians are struggling to trust the process and in view of this the Press must be allowed unfettered access to its proceedings for record and posterity sake, too.”
