The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested the Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari and four other police officers for
their involvement in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, reports ITREALMS.
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| DCP Abba Kyari, arrested over drug deals |
NPF also described their involvement in the tampering with narcotic
exhibits, official corruption and sundry unprofessional infractions as discreditable,
unethical, and unprofessional conduct.
NPF in a press statement available to ITREALMS and
electronically signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer (DPPRO), CSP
Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday afternoon, said the Inspector General of Police
(IGP), Mr. Usman Alkali Baba had ordered immediate transfer of case to NDLEA, urging
NDLEA to investigate indicted officers of the agency.
IGP also decried official corruption and tampering with
exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual
transnational drug cartel.
As said by Adejobi, 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,
he said IGP ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the
allegations.
According to him, “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),” he said.
Equally, he said, that though 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), Inspectors Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. They have
all been, accordingly, handed over today 14th February, 2022 to the NDLEA
authorities.
“In so doing, IGP 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.”
IGP, Adejobi said assured 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.
Uboshe Uboshe/Editor
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