TheCable

Still caught in the middle of a police probe that has lasted over five months and possible extradition to the US over his alleged involvement with Hushpuppi, a self-confessed internet fraudster, Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), is in the news again.

Kyari may not have foreseen his recent arrest over alleged links to a “cocaine deal”. Less than three weeks ago, he was in high spirits while attending the wedding ceremony of the son of the inspector-general of police (IGP) in Borno.

On Monday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared the super cop wanted “over his involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal”. Hours later, the police announced his arrest and subsequent transfer to the NDLEA’s custody.

The developments have been coming in rapidly — and these are what the police and the NDLEA have so far revealed about the case.

• On January 19, 2022, two “international drug couriers”, Chibunna Patrieck Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu upon arrival from Ethiopia.
• The arrest was carried out by a unit of the police intelligence response team (IRT). Kyari headed the IRT before he was suspended over the Hushpuppi matter.
• On January 21, Kyari was said to have met an NDLEA operative in Abuja, informing the latter that the suspects arrested by the IRT in Enugu were found with 25kg of cocaine.
• Kyari proposed that the seized cocaine be divided into two parts — 15kg and 10kg. His plan was that NDLEA would use 10kg to prosecute the suspects, while Kyari/IRT unit/”informants” would take 15kg. The 15kg cocaine taken out would be replaced with “dummies”.
• Three days after the meeting, the NDLEA operative was directed to play along and agree that the cocaine should be shared as suggested by Kyari.
• When the NDLEA was ready to play ball, Kyari said the 15kg cocaine had already been shared — informants took 7kg and Kyari’s “team” got 8kg. But he had another request. The suspended DCP offered to sell 5kg from the remaining seized cocaine and pay the money to the NDLEA operative and FCT commander — Kyari expected that the FCT command would be involved in the deal.
• The 5kg that would be sold was expected to fetch N35 million – at N7 million per kilogramme. The money would be delivered in dollars (at N570 black market exchange rate) and Kyari offered to deliver $61,400 to the NDLEA operative.
• While the dollars-for-5kg cocaine deal was in play, “Kyari’s men” arrived in Abuja and were awaiting his go-ahead to deliver the suspects, the remaining 5kg original cocaine and the 20kg “dummies”. Kyari was said to be in Lagos at this time.
• On January 25, Kyari asked if his younger brother could deliver the $61,400, while his “men” would bring the suspects, but the NDLEA operative insisted on dealing with the suspended DCP personally.
• At 5:23pm on January 25, Kyari was back in Abuja for a rendezvous with the NDLEA operative.
• Kyari told the NDLEA operative that the remaining 5kg of original cocaine would come in packages “marked with red dots”, to differentiate them from the “dummies” and to ensure the right substance is tested. He also sent a photograph of the marked packages.
• The $61,400 from the sale of the extra 5kg of cocaine was delivered at the Abuja spot, but the NDLEA officer insisted that the money exchange hands in the latter’s car — the vehicle had been fitted with recording devices prior to the meeting.
• Sixteen days later, on February 10, the NDLEA invited Kyari for questioning. On February 14, “after he failed to show up”, he was declared wanted.

According to the IGP, the investigation carried out by the police revealed that “the international narcotics cartel involved in the case has strong ties with some NDLEA officers who are on their payroll”.

Meanwhile, Kyari was arrested alongside four other officers — Sunday Ubuah, Bawa James, Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. One John Umoru, identified as an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is said to be at large.