TheNewsGuru

Tag: Cocaine

  • [See Photo] 2 drug dealers excrete 165 wraps of cocaine

    [See Photo] 2 drug dealers excrete 165 wraps of cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that two drug traffickers have excreted a total of 165 wraps of cocaine following their arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi who named the suspects as Elvis Iro, 53 and Uwaezuoke Christian, 42 said that they were arrested by operatives of the NDLEA.

    He said that the suspects excreted the drugs while under observation in the Agency’s custody.

    According to him, the 53-year-oldman, Iro a father of four children hails from Abiriba, Ohafia local government area of Abia state.

    “He was arrested on Saturday March 19, upon his arrival on board Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis-Ababa for ingesting 65 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.376kg.

    “During preliminary interview, he claimed he’s an interior decorator but had to go into drug trafficking because he needed money to start a coffee business.

    “He also said he had to venture into the business to take care of his family and stock his newly acquired shop with curtain materials/accessories in Lagos.

    “He said he would have been paid One Thousand ($1,000) U.S. dollars on successful delivery of the drug in Abuja, Babafemi said.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said Christian on the same flight, was also arrested on arrival for ingesting 100 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 2.243kg.

    Babafemi said that the suspect, who hails from Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state, claimed to be a businessman dealing in baby’s wears before venturing into drug trafficking.

    “During preliminary interview, he said he traveled to Addis Ababa on Thursday March 17 to buy the drug for Ten Thousand ($10,000) U.S. dollars and returned on Saturday 19th March when he was arrested.

    “He said he sold his land in his village and took loans from friends to be able to raise money to buy the drug.

    “He claimed he had to go into drug to raise money for his business after being duped of Fifteen Thousand ($15,000) U.S. dollars by his friend who lives in China, ” Babafemi said.

    Babafemi said that the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen.- Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of NAIA for their diligence and vigilance.

    See Photo:

  • Drug deal: All you have to know about Abba Kyari’s court appearance today

    Drug deal: All you have to know about Abba Kyari’s court appearance today

    Suspended DCP Abba Kyari on Monday pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kyari was arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja alongside six others on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

    While Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, however, pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

    The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

    But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them.

    TNG reports the charge is unlawful importation of 21.35 kg of cocaine.

    Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four, where allegations bordering on conspiracy were levelled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.

    Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

    Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants.

    Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty for the charges against them.

    “We hope to file our prove of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

    Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia (1st and 2nd defendants), however, informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

    The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, confirmed being served with the bail application but said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition and served on the defence early in the morning.

    Although Agabi, who was former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), confirmed receipt of the prosecution counter affidavit and was ready to move his motion, the judge said the NDLEA’s reply was not in the court file.

    “My problem is that I have not sighted my eyes on the application filed by the prosecution this morning,” he said, saying that another date would be given to take the bail request.

    Agabi said since the offences his clients were being charged for were bailable ones, he was prepared to take the application.

    Sunday, however, urged the court to review the facts of the case concerning Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty and sentence them accordingly.

    But Agabi objected to the prosecuting lawyer’s request.

    He argued that should the court convict and impose a sentence on the duo, it would jeopardise Kyari’s and the other four defendants’ case.

    “My Lord, convicting and sentencing these two defendants who have pleaded guilty to the charge will be prejudicial to our clients case,” Agabi said.

    He contended that Umeibe and Ezenwanne might have “pleaded guilty out of ignorance.”

    Besides, he said the fact that their names were also mentioned in counts three and four made the matter worse.

    He pleaded with the court to put the sentence and conviction of the two defendants on hold, pending the determination of the matter.

    Counsel for the 3rd defendant, Michael Mbanefo, including lawyer to the 4th and 5th defendants, M. Y. Chiwar, also spoke in the same vein.

    However, counsel for the 6th and 7th defendants, E. U. Okenyi, disagreed with Agabi’s submissions concerning his clients’ admission of guilt.

    He said his clients couldn’t have pleaded guilty to charges in which they were legally represented in court without his knowledge.

    Okenyi, who prayed the court to discountenance Agabi’s request, said if his clients continued to be in detention till the end of the case just to serve some interests, would be unfair to them.

    Also, the NDLEA’s lawyer, Sunday, opposed Mr Agabi’s argument, saying the “conviction and sentencing of the two defendants” cannot be put in abeyance till the conclusion of the five remaining defendants’ trial.

    According to him, it will be unfair to defer the conviction and sentencing of the two defendants till conclusion of trial of the other defendants.

    He argued that Umeibe and Ezenwanne cannot continue to wait in prison till the end of the trial of Kyari and others, urging the court to reject the plea.

    In his intervention, the trial judge directed both prosecuting and defence lawyers to address the court on points of law concerning their arguments.

    Justice Nwite, who adjourned the hearing of Kyari and the remaining four defendants’ bail application until March 14, fixed March 28 for the hearing of review of facts of the charges to enable the court take a decision on Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s matter.

    He ordered that the defendants be remanded in NDLEA’s custody till the next hearing date.

    The NDLEA, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers, accused Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

    It equally alleged that Kyari and his men, who are currently in its custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine.

    The duo of Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.

    Kyari, formerly head of IRT, and six others would be arraigned before Justice Nwite.

    In a related development, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had, on Wednesday, filed an application for the commencement of extradition process of Kyari in the FHC.

    The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, had filed the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, under the Extradition Act as part of the Nigerian government’s approval of the request by the U. S. for Kyari’s extradition.

    Kyari is to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

    He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime, and Kyari had denied the allegations.

    A grand jury, on April 29, 2021, had filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

    However, the extradition proceeding is yet to be heard by the FHC at the time of filing the report.

    Justice Zainab Abubakar of an FHC had, on Feb. 22, given the NDLEA the go-ahead to detain Kyari and six others in custody for another 14 days to conclude its investigation.

    His application for bail was, on Feb. 28, turned down by a sister court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, on the grounds that a court of coordinate justification had already granted an order for his further detention.

    But Ekwo, who said that he was inclined to hear Kyari’s fundamental enforcement rights suit with the urgency it deserves after the expiration of the 14-day court order, fixed March 15 to hear Kyari’s application.

    Kyari, earlier through his lawyer, had, on Feb. 21, approached the court with an ex-parte motion and originating summons seeking for a bail and asking the court to enforce his fundamental human rights which he alleged had been breached by the unlawful arrest and detention.

    He said that the allegations preferred against him were trump-up and baseless.

    Kyari, in the main suit, urged the court to make an order directing the NDLEA to pay him N500 million for infringing on his rights.

    He also asked the court to direct the agency to tender a public apology in national dailies.
    The suspended DCP had also challenged the order made on Feb. 22 by Justice Abubakar, empowering the NDLEA to detain him for more days.

    In an application filed by his counsel before Abubakar, Kyari prayed the court to set aside the order for his detention, arguing that the order was issued without him being accorded a fair hearing.

    Abubakar had fixed tomorrow (Tuesday) for hearing Kyari’s application.

  • BREAKING: NDLEA files charges against Kyari, 6 others in cocaine deal

    BREAKING: NDLEA files charges against Kyari, 6 others in cocaine deal

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed an eight-count charge against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and six others, accusing them of among others dealing in 17.55kilogrammes of cocaine.

    Named with Kyari, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/57/2022, are ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

    The charge was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The NDLEA, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr Joseph Sunday, accused Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.
    It equally alleged that Kyari and his men, who are currently in its custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine.
    The duo of Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.
    In a related development, reports that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had, on Wednesday, filed an application for the commencement of extradition process of Kyari, formerly the head of the IRT, in the FHC.
    The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, filed the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, under the Extradition Act.
    This was part of Nigeria government’s approval of the request by the U. S. for Kyari’s extradition.
    Kyari is to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
    He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.
    A grand jury, on April 29, 2021, had filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.
    Justice Zainab Abubakar of a FHC had, on Feb. 22, gave the NDLEA the go-ahead to detain Kyari and six others in custody for another 14 days to conclude its investigation.
    His application for bail was, on Monday, turned down by a sister court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, on the grounds that a court of coordinate justification had already granted an order for his further detention.
    The suspended DCP had challenged the order made on Feb. 22 by Justice Abubakar, empowering the NDLEA to detain him for more days.
    In an application filed by his counsel, Kyari prayed the court to set aside the order for his detention, arguing that the order was issued without him being accorded a fair hearing.
    The court had fixed a hearing in Kyari’s application for March 8.
  • Alleged unlawful detention: Abba Kyari demands N500m in damages from NDLEA

    Alleged unlawful detention: Abba Kyari demands N500m in damages from NDLEA

    The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, has demanded N500 million in damages from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged unlawful arrest and detention.

    Kyari, in an originating motion on notice, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, also sought an order, directing the NDLEA to tender a written apology to him in two national dailies.

    The motion, dated Feb. 16 and filed Feb. 17 by his lawyer, C. O. Ikena, also sought an order “restraining the respondent (NDLEA), its agents, servants, privies, police or anyone acting on their behalf from further harassing, detaining, intimidating, arresting the applicant unlawfully.

    “An order of this court directing the respondent to pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) to the applicant, for unlawful violation of the applicant’s constitutional right provided for in Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).”

    In the motion to enforce his fundamental rights, Kyari also sought a declaration that his arrest and continued detention by the NDLEA “without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction from Feb. 12 till date is illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental rights

    He said his personal liberty and freedom of movement is guaranteed by Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    “A declaration that announcing the applicant in the press without giving him right to fair hearing nor establishing a prima-facie case against him is illegal, unlawful and an infringement on his fundamental right.

    “A declaration that declaring the applicant syndicate of the suspect without establishing a prima-facie case against the applicant is unlawful and an infringement on his fundamental right.

    “A declaration that torture, degrading and inhuman treatment giving the applicant by the agent of the respondent is illegal, unlawful and an infringement on the applicant fundamental human right.

    “A declaration that refusal to grant administrative bail to applicant on alleged bailable offence is unlawful and infringement on the applicant’s fundamental human right.

  • DCP Abba Kyari,others to get judgment on Monday in Abuja

    DCP Abba Kyari,others to get judgment on Monday in Abuja

    The fate of DCP Abba Kyari and four other who were involved in the 25kg cocaine deal will be decided by Abuja division of the federal High court.

    The NDLEA has filed multiple applications before the court bordering on the incident preparatory to charging them to court.

    Sources from the court informed Saturday Sun that the court is expected to rule on some of the decisions, including the one seeking an abridgement of time which was filed on Thursday by lawyers from the agency.

    The motion for accelerated hearing is to fast track the determination of the preliminary issues which are conditions precedent for the official filing of charges against the suspects.

    Others to be charged alongside Kyari are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.

    They are currently in the custody of the NDLEA where they are being investigated on allegations on involvement in a drug deal.

    Besides the application for the abridgement of time, the agency has equally filed an application seeking a warrant to detain the suspects in its facility beyond the statutory period of 48 hours.

    The 1999 Nigerian constitution clearly states that persons arrested or detained shall be brought before a court within a “reasonable time”.

    According to the constitution, the reasonable time means a period of 24 hours when a court of competent jurisdiction is within a radius of 40 kilometres to the police station or a period of two days in any other case. The NDLEA had on Monday February 14, declared Kyari wanted for aiding and abetting drug pushing and running his own cartel.

    Five hours after the declaration, the Nigerian Police Force handed over the suspended DCP Abba Kyari, and four others to the anti-narcotic agency for interrogation.

    The suspects have been in the custody of the agency since Monday, a period exceeding the constitutional time limit for charging an accused person to Court.

    The application by the agency for a detention warrant of the suspects is to make their detention beyond the constitutional period legal.

    NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi confirmed to Saturday Sun that a team of lawyers from the legal department of agency have filed necessary applications including the proof of evidence containing the statements extracted from Kyari and other suspects in the 25kg cocaine saga.

    Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA has equally sought for a warrant that would enable it keep the suspects beyond the statutory period of time pending the conclusion of investigations on the matter.

    He explained that a reasonable time is needed to allow the agency to critically examined the exhibits and other evidence that would be used to strengthen it’s case against the suspects.

    Recall that DCP Abba Kyari was arrested by NDLEA for his involvement in a cocaine deal .

  • Ilogbo Police bursts drug camp at Eledu

    Ilogbo Police bursts drug camp at Eledu

    Officers of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Ilogbo Police Station of Lagos State have burst a drug camp at the Eledu area, with various hard drugs recovered.

    The Police officers led by one Bale raided the drug camp on Thursday and arrested a salesgirl known as “Iya Yusuf”, while the drug dealer fled.

    Speaking with the DPO of the station, SP Afolayan Victoria, she explained that the sales of hard drugs at the remote area became worrisome following incessant robberies and crime.

    “When these boys take this hard drug, they go about doing all manners of evil, including robbery. Bikes are being robbed from their owner, people lose their phones to them and it is a slap on my face.

    “Since I came in, I have to mobilize officers to come and join me in doing the cleansing. All manners of hard drugs were brought here, including cocaine. Look at the hard drugs as they are many.

    “The sales girl arrested claimed that she does not take the drugs but look at her eyes. Such people can even be keeping gun for the robbers who come to patronize them.

    “The sales of hard drugs at this area has really gotten out of hand, but I will not watch it continue. I wonder why won’t the salesgirl look for a trade to learn or something else to do than selling hard drugs.”

    Iya Yusuf, who spoke with TNG, noted that she is a mother of two children and was introduced to the drug dealer as she was in search of a job in the area.

    “I want to return to Ibadan if I see money for transport. Na only cigarette I smoke,” she wept.

    Meanwhile, in a video, the drug dealer was seen naked at Ilogbo Junction of the area, saying she is a first offender and has many police officers that she settles at Area K and Morogbo Police Station for her drug camp not to be raided.

    According to her, she does not have a home and had told the salesgirl to be keeping the cocaine in a bush.

    “If she did not do so and police caught her with it, she will be the one that will go to jail. If I have the contact of the person controlling Ilogbo Police Station, I would have called the person and we will discuss how I will be paying because I don’t want police disturbance at where I am doing my business,” she ranted to the crowd.

  • NDLEA replies Police: Abba Kyari’s team involved in cocaine deal, not our officials

    NDLEA replies Police: Abba Kyari’s team involved in cocaine deal, not our officials

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it will not shield anyone who may be indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang allegedly headed by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.

    The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the agency remained committed to an evidence-based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by misrepresentation of facts.

    The police on Monday arrested Kyari and four others and handed them over to the NDLEA who had earlier in the day declared him wanted.

    After handing Kyari over, the police called on the NDLEA to also arrest its officers who are allegedly involved in the scandal but Babafemi said no NDLEA official is part of the cartel.

    According to him, it was untrue that NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport were the ones who received the details about the mule (drug carriers) coming from Addis Ababa from the cartel.

    “The agency (NDLEA) wishes to quote from the transcript of Abba Kyari’s recorded conversation with our undercover officer and a portion of ASP James Bawa’s statement to the police as documented in the police investigation report, a copy of which was made available to the agency, to state that it is an established fact that it is the Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and without doubt, the records clearly show how their ring works,” he said.

    He recalled that after NDLEA requested for Kyari and others for interrogation, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with the report of their interrogation.

  • NDLEA officers were on the drug cartel’s payroll- Police

    NDLEA officers were on the drug cartel’s payroll- Police

    The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has revealed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, had officers in Enugu who were on the drug cartel’s payroll.

    This was as NDLEA, in a statement on Wednesday, asserted that the drug courier in the 25kg cocaine deal involving the suspended DCP Abba Kyari and his men did not contact its officers.

    A spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said an interim investigation revealed that the two international drug couriers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, had strong ties with some officers of the NDLEA.

    CSP Adejobi further disclosed that the two arrested couriers confirmed that the modus was 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.

    NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, explained that on the contrary, the traffickers, who were apprehended at the airport in Enugu, were in touch with the police team led by Kyari.

    Babafemi stressed that the NDLEA remains committed to the evidence-based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.

    The Police Spokesman stated that the suspects also confirmed that they have been enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers at the Enugu 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.

    “They were on their way out with the narcotics when they were apprehended by the police,” CSP Adejobi said.

    In a contrary view, the NDLEA spokesman explained that, according to the police investigation report, ASP James Bawa in his statement to the police revealed that “he was called by an informant identified as IK from Brazil who told him that a drug courier will be arriving onboard Ethiopian Airlines in Enugu.”

    Bawa, in his confession further explained that “a pointer from IK, the Brazil-based informant met with him at about 1420hrs on 19th January 2022 outside the airport and showed him a picture of the courier. Subsequently, they sighted the suspect as he exited the airport terminal after all arrival clearance formalities, and he was arrested with another associate”.

    The NDLEA also disclosed that in his own recorded conversation with an undercover officer, Abba Kyari said, “they are greedy, seriously greedy (referring to his informants), we tried to have them accept 40% but they refused, except 50%; they know the rudiment of the deal very well; they are the ones that do the packing.

    “From Brazil, one of the informants accompanied it to Ethiopia. You understand; one of the informants accompanied the goods to Ethiopia, one of the informants that give us information. He is the boy of the big baron.

    “Addis, from Addis it will be given to those to proceed further with it, he will get their snapshots without their knowledge. Yes, he will reveal those that are conveying it further, get snapshots of theirs without their knowledge and send them to us (Abba Kyari’s team).

    “So we already know the goods, pictures and the clothes they are wearing, hope you understand, we know your name, he will give us everything. So, automatically my team will just be waiting, they will just see you and arrest you.”

    Responding to the NDLEA officer’s question on whether his boys are usually stationed inside or outside the airport, Abba Kyari said, “Yes, yes, some are outside while some are inside. They will just allow you to finish arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you come out.”

    In his summation, Babafemi asserted that the confession from Kyari and his colleague leaves no doubt and emphatically establishes who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi.

  • EXHIBIT MANIPULATION: How Kyari substituted 20kg of cocaine exhibits with dummies

    EXHIBIT MANIPULATION: How Kyari substituted 20kg of cocaine exhibits with dummies

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has narrated how on Jan 24, its officers played along with suspended police officer, DCP Abba Kyari, as he substituted 20kg kg cocaine with dummies- out of 25kg cocaine caught with some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia.

    Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a briefing revealed that “According to the plan, once the 5kg cocaine has been tested in the presence of the suspects and confirmed positive, there would be no need to test the remaining ones, being dummies.”

    Kyari, before his suspension over links with convicted fraudster Hushpuppi, was the Commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force.

    Babafemi maintained that the embattled cop is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline.

    He noted that Kyari, while in Lagos for a private business, sent his younger brother to deliver $61, 400 to the NDLEA team, as bribe to enable him take custody of the drug and suspects who were on ground in Abuja.

    According to the Spokesman, Kyari had initiated a call to one of its officers on Friday, January 21, 2022.

    NDLEA Spokesman said: “When the officer returned the call two minutes later, Kyari informed him he was coming to see him, to discuss an operational matter after the Juma’at service.

    “He appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter. This was it: His team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with 25kg of cocaine.

    He proposed a drug deal whereby he and his team are to take 15kg of the cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested with the illicit drug in Enugu. In the meantime, the purloined cocaine will be replaced with a dummy worth 15kg. He asked the NDLEA officer to persuade men of the FCT Command, to play along as well.

    “By 11: 05 am on Monday, January 24, after the Agency gave the officer the green light to play along, he and Kyari began a WhatsApp call for the rest of the day. The officer conveyed “their” willingness to play the game.

    He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61, 400. Our officer, however, preferred to take the money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders

    “At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and himself and his men of the IRT of the Nigerian Police. According to him, the informants were given 7kg while his team took 8kg which was already sold.

    “He then offered to pay the NDLEA team (that is the officer and the FCT commander) by selling, on their behalf, half of the remaining 10kg, thereby further reducing the original cocaine for the prosecution to just 5kg.

    “At N7m per kilogram, the proceed from the 5kg would amount to N35m, at the exchange rate of N570 per dollar being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022. In effect, he would be delivering $61, 400 to the NDLEA team.

    “He put pressure on our officer to wrap up the arrangement with the commander of the FCT Command to take custody of the drug and suspects from his men who were on ground in Abuja. At the time, he was speaking from Lagos, where he allegedly travelled for private business.

    “The next day January 25, Kyari offered to send his younger brother to deliver the payment while his men deliver the suspects, but our officer turned down the suggestion, insisting he would rather deal with him in person and was therefore prepared to wait for him to return from Lagos.

    “And by 5: 23 pm, Kyari was in Abuja and met with the officer at the same rendezvous where they had the first meeting. In their discussion, he disclosed how his team received the information from a double-crosser who betrayed the traffickers to him, showing a sordid connection between law enforcement agents and the drug underworld; he narrated how acting on the tip-off, his team departed Abuja to Enugu and arrested the traffickers, removed part of the consignment on his instruction and replaced same with dummies.

    “He also indicated how to identify the remnant of the original cocaine that would be delivered to NDLEA, five original packages marked with red dots. The reason for this was to avoid the dummies being subjected to test.

    “He forwarded a picture of the marked original cocaine package. According to the plan, once the 5kg cocaine has been tested in the presence of the suspects and confirmed positive, there would be no need to test the remaining ones, being dummies.

    “He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61, 400. Our officer, however, preferred to take the money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders.”

    The suspects and drugs were delivered to us on February 8 but the last part of the process, yet to be completed, is the debriefing of Kyari

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

    “NDLEA has the mandate to take custody of suspects and consignments of drugs seized by other arms of law enforcement and there is a standard protocol for such transfer.

    “This we duly followed. The suspects and drugs were delivered to us on February 8 but the last part of the process, yet to be completed, is the debriefing of Kyari.

    “DCP Abba Kyari was invited by NDLEA for debriefing on Thursday February 10 through two main channels because there is a whole lot of questions begging for answers. The invitation was legitimate and formal according to our protocol. But up till the close of office hours on Friday, February 11, he refused to respond.

    “We are a law-abiding agency of government. We follow due process. In that vein, we will not detain suspects beyond the stipulated period according to the law before we charge them to court. And Kyari must be debriefed before the suspects are arraigned in court.

    “Having failed to honour the official invitation, NDLEA has no option but to declare DCP Abba Kyari of the Nigerian Police WANTED, right from this very moment, the NDLEA spokesman declared.

  • Abba Kyari in custody: No stone will be left unturned – NDLEA

    Abba Kyari in custody: No stone will be left unturned – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed wanted super cop, Abba Kyari is now in its custody and that no stone will be left unturned in investigating the matter.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja made this known in a statement on Monday.

    Babafemi made this known shortly after the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) said it has arrested Kyari and handed him over to the anti-narcotic agency.

    “Few hours after he was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA over his involvement in a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal, 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 at about 5pm on Monday 14th February to formally hand them over for interrogation and further investigation.

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