NDLEA Files 8-Count Criminal Charge Against Abba Kyari, Other Accomplices

04 Mar NDLEA Files 8-Count Criminal Charge Against Abba Kyari, Other Accomplices

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed an eight-count criminal charge against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, and six others it alleged were involved in drug trafficking.

The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, which the agency lodged before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, were four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

The Agency, in the charge filed through a team of lawyers led by its director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, accused DCP Kyari and four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

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

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

The NDLEA entered the charge against them, barely 24 hours after the Nigerian government, granted request for Kyari to be extradited to the United States, to face trial over his alleged involvement with an internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had in the extradition application brought before the Federal High Court Abuja, claimed that no charge was pending against DCP Kyari in Nigeria.