One of the lawyers of a police officer Abba Kyari has denied releasing a statement blaming insecurity in the county on his absence from duty.
Kyari, who is currently detained following drug trafficking charges levelled against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), gained a reputation over the years as a super crime fighter.
His lawyer Suleiman Abdullahi, in a statement on Wednesday, asked Nigerians to ignore the viral statement, saying the suspended deputy police commissioner did not author it.
“Reports that DCP Abba Kyari had said his absence has caused serious increase in incidents of insecurity in the country is fake news and not true. This should be ignored in its entirety,” the statement said.
“It necessary to respond to the fake news being peddled by mischief makers and those who are hellbent to tarnish his hard earned reputation because some people might believe what is completely untrue and fake we we don’t respond.”
Mr Abdullahi said the authors of the statement might have come up with the idea using an argument made by one of Kyari’s lawyers in court.
“His lawyer argued in one of the papers he filed in court that his client (Abba Kyari) had fought violent crimes doggedly across the country and violent crimes have being increasing in recent times.
“These are not Abba Kyari’s words but normal arguments of a lawyer about his client. This has caused some mischievous elements to try to twist it as if it’s Abba Kyari’s words,” he added.