Abba Kyari And The Pain Of Losing A Mother -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

As the DCP Abba Kyari was presented before the court last week in continuation of his trials, he was not his usual self for the ebullient super cop was looking rather frail and forlorn. It was not because of the long and windy trial process or the pain of the endless adjournments. It was something else. It was as if he had a premonition of something unpleasant that was about to happen. And on Sunday the 5^th day of May, 2024, in the early hours of the morning, his beloved mother Hajia Yachilla Imam Kyari died at the Royal Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, Bornu State. And as expected, the sad news of his mother’s death left him devastated and heart-broken.

Those who visited in the Kuje Correctional Centre reported that the super cop wept uncontrollably like a baby when the news of his mother’s death was revealed to him. Yes he wept because he had not seen his mother for the almost two and half years that he had been incarcerated more so, as he had no opportunity of witnessing her burial. In his grief, Abba Kyari was said to have heaped encomiums on her departed mother whom he said raised him up and supported his career. He regretted that he had no opportunity of hearing from her before her departure.

It is said that of the ten children that survived the deceased, Abba Kyari, the Nigerian most decorated police officer, is the third and the first son and that probably explains the bond between them as the demonstrated by his lamentations. It is not clear if it is a statement of guilt or regret when Abba was quoted to have said that if he was out that his mother might not have died.

This statement credited to Abba kept me thinking about the slow tortuous judicial processes in the country. A simple bail application will take months and years to be filed and treated. Sometimes, people died waiting for the justice. Most times people spent years in detention longer than the jail term specified for the offences allegedly committed. All these lengthy and suffocating legal procedures and processes breeds corruption, miscarriage of justice and reduce public confidence in the judiciary. Those responsible for prosecuting court cases must bear in mind that an accused is deemed innocent until proven guilty and should be seen as such. They should remember that the accused or the defendant has families, loved ones dependents who should not suffer because one of their own is standing trial.

I was very close to tears when I reflect on super cop’s assertion that his mother might not have died if he was out. Yes, the mother may have died heart-broken because he had lost hope of ever going to see her beloved son again. The absence of her son who makes her happy with her presence and calls may have precipitated into sickness and depression. Yes, if Abba Kyari was out, he probably would have seen it that the mother got the right medical attention at the right time. It was not clear the type of sickness that killed her but the presence of her son would have made a difference and would have aided her recuperation process. I am speaking from the stand point of humanity and a mother because I am a mother.

Our legal and judicial systems certainly need a review. We must review our systems and procedures and remove those artificial impediments that tend to make our judicial system appear insensitive to the ordeals of those in the custody of the court and members of their family. We must build institutions and structures that will ensure speedy and timely dispensation of justice. Special courts should be established for special cases. It is a fact that because of the uncertainties associated with court cases in the country, most citizens do not trust the courts and would rather prefer to take laws into their hands or use some other unorthodox means to resolve disputes than go to court to seek redress and that is not good for the growth of our judicial system.

Now that Abba Kyari’s case has apparently has claimed its first victim – his mother – what next?  It should be an eye-opener for us. I will appeal as I have always done to the authorities to urgently review his case accordingly. I will join the many admirers of the super cop, many of whom he had freed from the hands of the dare-devil kidnappers and members of their families to commiserate with Mr. Abba Kyari over the death of his dear mother. May Allah give Abba Kyari and his siblings the fortitude to endure the loss of their mother. And may Allah grant the deceased eternal peace.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician London, UK