DCP Abba Kyari arraigned in court along with others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday arraigned suspended police officer Abba Kyari and six others over drug trafficking related offences.

The NDLEA had filed eight counts of hard drugs trafficking against Mr Kyari, who is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with convicted fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abass.

Mr Kyari was a former Deputy Commissioner of Police. Those arrainged along with Mr Kyari include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

According to the NDLEA, Mr Kyari, between January 19 and 25, dealt in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine. He is also being charged with obstruction of justice and attempted bribery of NDLEA officers.

NewsWireNGR recalls the NDLEA had said it initially invited Kyari for questioning since concluding its investigation but the suspended police chief was yet to respond.

The police later arrested 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 transnational drug cartel.

police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said an interim investigations report showed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on January 19, 2022, upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

“The arrest led to the recovery of a 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),” Adejobi said.