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 among other infractions.
This was disclosed Monday, 14 February, 2022, in a statement issued by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, DFPRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
TheFact Nigeria had reported earlier today that the erstwhile head of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, had been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for his alleged ties with an international drug cartel, and for masterminding a 25kg cocaine heist.
Among other infractions for which the arrests have been made include official corruption and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel.
The NDLEA had also, earlier today released video footage of Kyari trying to bribe one of its operatives in a bid to carry out the drugs heist in the country.
According to the DFPRO, the arrest of the officers came on the heels of pieces of information received from the leadership of the anti-narcotics agency on Thursday, 10 February, 2022.
Adejobi further disclosed that 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 international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, 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 of the duo 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.
However, it was also gathered, following the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the Inspector General of Police that there were strong reasons to believe 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”.
The Police investigation further indicted some officers of the NDLEA stationed at the Akanu Ibiam International airport, with whom the international narcotics cartel have strong ties, and who are on the cartel’s payroll.
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. They further confirmed that hadbeen enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport since 2021.
The Police investigation’s 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.
Consequently, the IGP 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.
Adejobi’s statement mentions the four other concerned officers to include ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, ASP John Umoru (at large), Inspr. Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu, who have all been handed over to the NDLEA authorities.
Adejobi disclosed that the Police Chief has also formally requested that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA 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.
