Despite suspension, Abba Kyari continues leading Nigerian police officers in drug ring: NDLEA

Mr Kyari was last July suspended over his indictment by the United States in a multimillion-dollar fraud case involving Hushpuppi

HILLARY ESSIEN • February 14, 2022

Abba Kyari

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared suspended DCP Abba Kyari wanted over his role in drug trafficking deal using officers of the Intelligence Response Team.

The anti-drug agency made their findings in a press statement released on Monday, which linked Mr Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, to a rogue drug bust involving 25kg of cocaine from Ethiopia and intercepted by his team in January.

The agency stated that Mr Kyari proposed a deal with its officers whereby he and his team would take possession of 15kg of intercepted cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested in Enugu.

“By 11: 05 am on Monday, January 24, after the Agency gave the officer the green light to play along, he and Kyari began a WhatsApp call for the rest of the day. The officer conveyed “their” willingness to play the game.

“At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and he and his men of the IRT of the Nigerian Police,” the statement said.

Peoples Gazette reached out to the police to clarify if and how Mr Kyari still has access to the officers of the IRT despite his suspension.

However, these efforts proved abortive as its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, left his phone calls and messages unanswered.

Mr Kyari had been suspended last July in respect of his indictment by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation for a multimillion-dollar fraud case involving fraudster Hushpuppi.

Mr Kyari’s suspension was enforced as a temporary measure while the police looked into his relationship with popular fraudster, Hushpuppi, as well as his role in the scam allegedly carried out by Hushpuppi and five others.

The Gazette had reported that the Police Service Commission had recommended immediate dismissal and prosecution of Mr Kyari over his involvement in the online fraud debacle.

At the time of filing this report, the Police Service Commission has given the police two weeks to conclude investigation on Mr Kyari.

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