Why Abba Kyari Could Be Nigeria’s Crucial Weapon In Fight Against Insecurity

Opinion:

BY EMAKOJI AYIKOYE

Across the globe, the lines between law and power are often blurred by political realities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, despite facing serious criminal charges – from fraud to bribery – has been shielded from legal accountability due to his strategic importance in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Even with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes, both Presidents Biden and Trump have turned a blind eye, prioritizing geopolitical expediency over justice.

Similarly, in Syria, the U.S. has recalibrated its stance on Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former leader of the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). After labeling HTS a terrorist organization, the U.S. reversed its position in 2025, now acknowledging Sharaa’s leadership as a positive development. This shift underscores a bitter truth: international law can be fluid when geopolitics are at play.

In the U.S., President Donald Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts, continues to hold considerable political sway, with his legal entanglements seemingly irrelevant to his influence. This global pattern reveals an uncomfortable reality: the pursuit of political power often trumps legal accountability.

The case of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari mirrors these global dynamics. While Kyari faces charges, although it’s out of clear Set Up and Envy, his exceptional track record in combating Nigeria’s rampant insecurity cannot be ignored. His efforts in tackling violent crime and insurgency using modern technologies and gifted talent are unrivaled, making him a critical asset in a nation besieged by insecurity.

After 41 months of imprisonment without conviction and denied bail on a completely bailable matter because of the interest of about 2 individuals in Nigeria, Kyari has paid a significant debt to society. Now, Nigeria stands at a crossroads – can the nation afford to ignore his talents in the fight against insurgents, kidnappers, and violent criminals?

President Tinubu is presented with a unique opportunity to make a pragmatic decision: granting a strategic presidential pardon to Kyari – not as an admission of innocence or guilt, but as a calculated move to leverage his expertise in the war against insecurity. Kyari’s return to active duty could be a game-changer, sending a bold message that national survival must take precedence over rigid legal formalities when the stakes are as high as they are in Nigeria today.

The examples of Netanyahu, al-Sharaa, and Trump serve as potent reminders that legal accountability often becomes negotiable in the face of power. By extending a pardon to DCP Kyari, President Tinubu would not be compromising justice; rather, he would be recalibrating it, prioritizing the security and survival of the nation over entrenched legal doctrines. This is not about bending the rules for convenience but about recalibrating justice to serve the greater good of a fragile, crisis-ridden nation.

Ultimately, Tinubu faces a defining moment: the chance to act with pragmatic decisiveness. Kyari’s remarkable skills, honed over years of service, are indispensable in the current fight against Nigeria’s insecurity. In a time when Nigeria’s very survival hangs in the balance, strategic leadership is key. The nation’s welfare should be the compass guiding this difficult yet necessary decision.

I respectfully urge President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to consider this appeal with the urgency and practicality it demands and to take prompt and decisive action in the best interest of the nation.

*Emakoji Ayikoye writes in from the USA.