NDLEA confirms Kyari, 4 others in custody as suspended DCP faces extradition to US

*National Drug Law Enforcement Agency assures Nigerians ‘no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of the investigation will face the full weight of the law’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to arrest of the suspects by the Nigeria Police Monday, February 14, 2022, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said Mr. Abba Kyari, suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and four other Police officers are now in its custody in Abuja, FCT.

Mr. Kyari, until recently, was the Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja.

Kyari (far right) faces extradition to the US over suspected Internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (Hushpuppi) fraud case  Collage Photo: WithinNigeria 

ConsumerConnect reports Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, confirmed this development in a statement issued Monday, in Abuja, hours after the anti-drug regulatory agency had declared Kyari wanted over alleged involvement in a transnational drug deal.

The NDLEA Spokesman stated other Police officers in the agency’s custody are ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba, and Inspector John Nuhu.

Recall the agency earlier Monday at a media briefing had said following an investigation and Kyari’s subsequent failure to appear for interrogation, the NDLEA declared him wanted as the purported “principal actor” in a 25kilograms illegal international drug deal.

According to Babafemi, the former Commander of IRT at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Police before his suspension over links with convicted fraudster Hushpuppi, was wanted over his involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal.

The agency as well noted that the decision to declare Kyari wanted was a result of failed efforts at getting him to honour formal invitations for his formal interrogation.

It also decried a situation where those who were supposed to support current efforts at stemming the tide of illicit drug trafficking and abuse were themselves neck-deep in the menace in Nigeria.

In the statement affirming the transfer of the five arrested suspects to the anti-narcotics agency’s custody in Abuja, Mr. Babafemi said: “Few hours after he was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA over his involvement in a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal, the Nigerian Police Force has handed over the suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, to the anti-narcotic agency.

“Five of the wanted suspects namely: DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agrigba and Inspector John Nuhu, were driven into the National Headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja at about 5pm on Monday 14th February to formally hand them over for interrogation and further investigation.”

The NDLEA also stated: “The agency wishes to assure that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of the investigation will face the full weight of the law at the end of the ongoing probe.”

Nigerian Government concludes plan with FBI to extradite Kyari to US: Official

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has concluded plans with the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) to hand over Mr. Abab Kyari, who is still wanted for taking bribe from suspected celebrity Internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, from a $1.1million loot, according to report.

The Police authorities reportedly had delayed action on Kyari for four days until the Presidency directed Mr. Usman Baba Alkali, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to release him to the NDLEA over allegations of his involvement in illegal international drug pipeline.

A top source in the Presidency was quoted to have disclosed that the Federal Government is already finalising the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with the US on Kyari’s extradition.

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