Police Arrest DCP Abba Kyari after NDLEA Declared Him Wanted
- It appears DCP Abba Kyari is now in a deeper mess as operatives of the Nigerian police arrested him on Monday, February 14
- The news of Kyari's arrest came shortly after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared he wanted over alleged drug links
- Kyari had earlier been suspended by the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged involvement in a $1 million scam masterminded by Hushpuppi
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!
The suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, has been arrested by the Nigerian police.
A statement released by the spokesman of the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, indicates that the senior police officer was arrested alongside four other police officers on Monday, February 14.
Source: Instagram
Kyari was arrested hours after National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared he wanted over alleged drug links.
Read the full statement by the police
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
"POLICE ARREST DCP ABBA KYARI, 4 OTHER POLICE OFFICERS FOR ALLEGATIONS OF TAMPERING WITH NARCOTIC EXHIBITS, OFFICIAL CORRUPTION AND SUNDRY UNPROFESSIONAL INFRACTIONS
"As IGP Orders Immediate Transfer of Case to NDLEA, Charges NDLEA to Investigate indicted officers of the Agency
"The Nigeria Police Force has arrested DCP Abba Kyari and four other police officers for their involvement in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, discreditable, unethical, and unprofessional conduct, official corruption and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel. The arrest of the officers was sequel to pieces of information received from the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on 10th February, 2022.
"In line with standard administrative procedure of the Force, the Inspector General of Police ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the allegations. The interim investigations report revealed that two (2) international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on the 19th of January, 2022 upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917. The arrest led to the recovery of substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers. The operation which was intelligence-driven, was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
"Although the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on the 25th January, 2022, the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the Inspector General of Police established reasonable grounds for strong suspicion that the IRT officers involved in the operation could have been involved in some underhand and unprofessional dealings as well as official corruption which compromised ethical standards in their dealings with the suspects and exhibits recovered.
"Beyond this, the Police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu who are on their pay roll. The two arrested drug couriers confirmed that the modus is for the transnational drug barons to conspire with the NDLEA officers on duty and send them their pre-boarding photographs for identification, seamless clearance, and unhindered passage out of the airport with the narcotics being trafficked.
"The two arrested drug couriers also confirmed that they have been enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport since 2021 and had in this instant case of 19th January, 2022, been identified and cleared by the NDLEA officers as customary, having received their pre-departure photographs and other details prior to their arrival in Enugu, and were on their way out with the narcotics when they were apprehended by the Police.
"The Police investigations report also indicted DCP Abba Kyari, who had been on suspension for his alleged involvement in a different fraud case being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), for complicity in the allegation of official corruption, tampering with narcotics exhibit and sundry unprofessional conducts that negate the standard administrative and investigative protocols of the Force as well as extant criminal laws. It is to be emphasised that DCP Abba Kyari’s involvement in these allegation occurred while his suspension from service was subsisting.
"On the strength of the findings of the in-house Police Investigation Panel, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered the immediate arrest and transfer of all the indicted police officers to the NDLEA authorities for conclusive investigation, while appropriate disciplinary actions are also being initiated against them by the Force leadership. The concerned officers include DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, ASP John Umoru (at large), Inspr. Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. They have all been, accordingly, handed over today 14th February, 2022 to the NDLEA authorities.
"In so doing, the Inspector General of Police has also formally requested that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should ensure the identification, arrest and investigation of the Agency’s officers who have also been found to be colluding with the international drug cartel involved in this case towards advancing the anti-narcotics agenda of the federal Government.
"The Inspector General of Police assures the public of his administration’s commitment to upholding the tenets and values of policing in line with the agenda of ethical regeneration, restoration of professional standard, enhancement of the anti-corruption drive, respect for the rule of law and inter-agency collaboration in the drive to stabilise the internal security order of the country."
Kyari is a member of drug syndicate - NDLEA
Speaking during a press briefing, the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said an investigation into the activities of the senior police officer revealed that Kyari is a member of a drug syndicate that operates across the globe.
The NDLEA also provided a visual evidence of Kyari attempting to bribe one of its officers. The video shows the suspended DCP Kyari making attempts to bribe the officer with proceeds from drug sales worth $61,500.
It was also gathered that the DCP had turned down efforts by the NDLEA for questioning.
Hushppupi: Police get only 2 weeks to investigate, conclude Abba Kyari's case
Meanwhile, allegations made against DCP Kyari regarding the $1 million scam masterminded by Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, will be investigated by another panel.
This was the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in a meeting held on Thursday, February 10.
The commission said the police force has only two weeks to carry out the investigation and present its report.
AGF Malami gives crucial update Abba Kyari's possible extradition to US
In another related report, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), has said the federal government and United States government are discussing the possible extradition of Kyari.
Malami spoke on Monday, February 7, while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.
The AGF also said reasonable grounds for suspicion have been established against Kyari.
Source: Legit.ng
