NDLEA files 8-count criminal charge against Abba Kyari

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Thursday, filed an eighth-count criminal charge against the suspended police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Commander, DCP Abba Kyari, and six others allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

The NDLEA case comes on a day it was disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the extradition request for Kyari by the United States, following which the government filed an application for his surrender before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.

In the application marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, under the Extradition Act, the FG said the application was necessitated by a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

READ: FG begins extradition of Abba Kyari to U.S., seeks court order

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, the NDLEA listed Kyari and four other members of the IRT – ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu – as well as two alleged drug traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne as Defendants.

Both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The charge filed by NDLEA team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, specifically accused Kyari and the 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 NDLEA custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of Cocaine. The duo of Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large, to import 21.35kg of Cocaine into Nigeria.