By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former head of the Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, has been arrested hours after he was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The anti-drug agency had on Monday at a press briefing declared the celebrated cop wanted for his alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, it was disclosed that Mr Kyari was apprehended along with four other police officers accused of tampering with narcotic exhibits, official corruption and sundry unprofessional infractions.
According to the statement, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, had 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, 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 IRT.
Although the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25, 2022, the findings of the in-house investigation 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.
The statement further claimed the police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the 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 January 19, 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,” a part of the statement noted.
The statement further said Mr 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, was also indicted in the report.
The police confirmed that Mr Kyari’s involvement in these allegations 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), Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. They have all been, accordingly, handed over today, February 14, 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,” the statement added.