February 21, (THEWILL) – The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, currently being detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, has dragged the federal government to court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, the embattled police officer is praying the court to compel the NDLEA to grant him bail on health grounds, pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental rights enforcement application.
In an ex-parte motion, filed through his lawyer, Mrs P. O. Ikenna, Kyari told the court that he was being held “on the basis of a false allegation that was levelled against him.”
However, when the case was called up, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, noted that the suit contained some averments that would require federal government’s response.
“Upon studying the process of the Applicant and averments in support thereon, I am of the opinion that the Respondent should be put on notice,” the Judge held.
Effort by counsel to the applicant to persuade the court to order Kyari’s release on the ground that “his health has deteriorated badly,” failed.
Rather, Justice Ekwo ordered that all the relevant processes should be served on the federal government, which was cited as the sole Respondent, even as he adjourned the case till February 24 for hearing.
THEWILL reports that the NDLEA had on February 14, 2022, indicted Kyari, ex-head of the police Intelligence Response Team, in alleged drug trafficking and related offences.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, subsequently handed over Kyari to the anti-narcotics agency for prosecution over alleged links in drug trafficking after the NDLEA released damning photo and video evidence to nail Kyari.
The NDLEA said Kyari, the suspended IRT head, belonged to a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline.
The agency also said Kyari contacted one of its officers in Abuja and struck a deal to secure the release of a total of 25kg seized cocaine and offered $61,400 bribe to NDLEA officers who played along until his arrest.
IGP Usman Baba in a statement had corroborated the NDLEA’s findings, saying incontrovertible evidence indicted Kyari in the drug crimes.
The police commission had suspended Kyari on July 31, 2021, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States indicted the “super cop” for his alleged role in a $1m scam allegedly perpetrated by alleged international Internet fraudster Ramon Abbas, aka, Hushpuppi and five others.
The FBI had said Hushpuppi paid Kyari N8m or $20,600 for the arrest and detention of a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Vincent.
About the Author
