NDLEA formally files 8-count charge against Abba Kyari

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has formally  filed an eight-count criminal charge against the suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Abba Kyari, and six others over allegations of drug trafficking.

Kyari has been under the custody of the anti-narcotics agency, the NDLEA since his February 15 arrest by the police and subsequent detention over his role in 25kg drug deal.

The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include Sunday J. Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu. The three defendants are members of the police intelligence response team (IRT)

Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Kyari was declared wanted by the NDLEA on February 14 over his involvement in a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal.

The agency confirmed that the Nigerian Police Force has handed over the suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, to the anti-narcotic agency.

“Five of the wanted suspects namely: DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu were driven into the National Headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja.

“This was about 5:00 p m. on Monday, February 14 to formally hand them over for interrogation and further investigation.

“The Agency wishes to assure that no stone will be left unturned.

“This is to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of investigation will face the full weight of the law at the end of the ongoing probe,” the NDLEA said.

It would be recalled that, penultimate Monday, Federal High Court of the FCT sitting in Abuja dismissed bail application by counsel to detained and suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.

Kyari has been in the custody of the NDLEA since February 14 over allegations of involvement in a drug deal, as the agency prepared to file formal charges against him.

NDLEA had, penultimate week, declared suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Abba Kyari wanted over alleged 25kilograms of illicit drugs.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said a press briefingin Abuja, that investigation has revealed that Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force, was a member of drug syndicate which operated across the globe.

The anti-narcotics agency explained that the declaration of Kyari as wanted had become necessary as the policeman had failed ‘to honour the official invitation’ extended to him by the NDLEA, ‘right from this very moment.’

The NDLEA said it cannot continue to keep other suspects in the case indefinitely while the principal suspect fails to honour official invitation, as it explained that relevant channels of communication were duly followed in the demand for Kyari without any result.

Kyari was subsequently arrested by the police and handed over to the NDLEA, a day later. He has since been under the custody of the anti-narcotics agency, which has also formally charged the suspended policeman to court tendering video evidence of his complicity in the latest drug dealings.

The embattled Kyari is already a subject prosecution or extradition between Nigeria and authorities in the United States over his indictment in the cybercrimes conviction of an internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja earlier last Monday, dismissed Kyari’s application for bail.

Presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, held, that the application has been overtaken by events.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had ordered the arrest of Kyari and handing over to the NDLEA, which had declared the embattled policeman wanted on February 14, over his involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal”.

However, Kyari on February 21 filed a suit challenging his continued detention on the grounds of abuse of his rights, as he denied charges of drug dealing.

The suit at the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Abuja, challenged his arrest and continued detention by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The suit filed against the Federal Government was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22 and is before the court of Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo.

The court had earlier granted the application of the NDLEA to detain Kyari for another 14 days to enable the agency conclude investigations in the charges to be preferred against him.