Eddy Obinna, has debunked the alleged extortion of N41.8 million levelled against the Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.
Eddy Obinna, a businessman and contractor, has debunked the alleged extortion of N41.8 million levelled against the former officer in charge of Lagos Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) SP Abba Kyari, now a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of IGP Intelligence Response Team.
Salawu Akingbolu, who was the claimant, had at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for SARS Related Abuses, accused DCP Abba Kyari of extorting the sum of N41.8million from Mojeed in 2014.
The victim, Obinna however, described the allegations as fallacious, saying it was aimed at misleading the panel and tarnishing Abba Kyari’s hard-earned reputation.
He revealed how Afeez Mojeed, a suspected fraudster in Lagos, allegedly stole the sum of N97million from him in 2014, when he wanted to procure some earth moving equipment from his cousin, Yusuf Olatunji Balogun.
He disclosed during a chat that Balogun who couldn’t deliver the equipment at the time it was needed, instructed his cousin, Mojeed, who was in possession of the said money to transfer it back to Obinna, but Mojeed, in turn allegedly absconded with the money.
It was gathered that, when Obinna and Balogun, couldn’t reach Mojeed to get back their money, Obinna wrote a petition to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, detailing how Mojeed, became elusive after stealing his money.
The matter was assigned to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, the only department which has the capacity to track criminals through their cell phones at that time.
Obinna added that operatives of the SARS Department, which he said was headed by Abba Kayri, now a Deputy Commissioner of Police, arrested Mojeed after tracking his mobile phones and he confessed to have stolen Obninna’s money which was paid into his account by his cousin, adding that he spent part of the money in buying landed properties and cars, leaving just N41.8million in his account.
Obinna stated further that Mojeed, willfully transferred the N41.8million found in his account directly back to Mr Obinna’s account and the sum of N700,000 cash recovered in his possession by the Police all part of his N97million were given to him after all documentations was done, while a Honda Accord car and building documents were confiscated and registered as Exhibits by the Police.
He said; “The police succeeded in helping me recover the sum of N42.5million from the N97million which Mojeed, stole from me, remaining N54.5million as balance. The money was released to me and I signed some documents after receiving the money. I was pleased with the manner of professionalism and uncompromising manner the police displayed in helping me recover part of my money and also confisticating some of the properties Mojeed acquired with my money. The matter was taken to the Magistrate Court 2 Ikeja and later High Court Ikoyi, where I hoped I would get the balance.”
Obinna lamented that the matter suffered severe setback when it got to court as it encountered countless adjournments, which it was eventually struck out, when he traveled out of the country and couldn’t follow up with his case.
“I went to court for about five times and I wasn’t pleased with the pace at which the matter was moving. There were times when I was in court but it wouldn’t be in session. I got frustrated and I had other business activities that took me out of the country and when I returned, I learned that the matter was struck out, but the suspect wasn’t acquitted.”
Reacting to statements filed by Mojeed’s lawyer, Salawu Akingbolu, at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for SARS Related Abuses, where DCP Abba Kyari, was accused of extorting the sum of N41.8million from Mojeed in 2014, Obinna described the allegations as fallacious, aimed at misleading the panel and tarnishing Abba Kyari’s hard-earned reputation.
He said; “I was shocked when I read in the news that Abba Kyari, extorted the sum of N41.8million from Mojeed on a matter which I am the complainant and Mojeed begged me severally for forgiveness when he was arrested.
“His cousin Balogun, who paid my money into his account with instruction that he should transfer the money to me is still alive. I the owner of the money is still alive and this people went to town with the stories and lies that the police extorted N41.8million from Mojeed, who stole my money.
“I am ready to appear before the panel to state the fact. I won’t allow Mojeed and his lawyer get away with this. I have a copy of his statement of account which showed clearly that Balogun paid my N97million into his account and he ran away with it and even spent N54.5million from it.
“I have advised Abba Kyari, to take legal action against Mojeed and the unprofessional conduct of his lawyer who have been trying to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned reputation. I have also instructed my lawyers to revisit the case in court since he wasn’t acquitted.” He stated.
